Christine Millman

ED 199

Professor Meyer

30 September 2020

Katie Mitchell Visit Write Up

Katie Mitchell is Butler Alumni. She is the Principal at Brownsburg in the Early

Childhood Education department working with students ages three to five in early

intervention. She helps students do testing and set up their IEP for when they start

school in kindergarten. Mitchell says, “Special education is challenging and I am not

going to sugar code it.” She has been working as a Special Education educator for ten

years. One of her biggest challenges is to balance stressors so she does not get burnt

out.

As a viewer, I saw that special education is really challenging but also super

rewarding. Her daughter is a four-year-old and popped in on the call a few times which I

thought was neat because she is living through her early childhood education and is a

witness to her Mom’s work. You can hear the passion in her voice for special education

and that is really inspiring.

One personal strength and asset I brought to the meeting was a love for Early

Childhood Education. Another personal asset I brought was an open mind and being a

good listener.

One Butler College of Education core value that stood out to me was The

Excitement of Teaching, Learning, and Mentoring. As a future early childhood educator,

Mitchell reassured that it is important to be excited and have enthusiasm for the

students in the classroom.

For my professional future as an educator, my goal is to work with three to

five-year-olds because that is the age group I connect with the best. I enjoy the energy

and love that age brings to the classroom. I hope to teach in the Senior classroom at

Trojan Tots Preschool.