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Can you tell us about yourself? 

"Hi, my name is Megan Forti. I work at little John elementary in DeKalb Illinois. I am a third grade bilingual teacher and this is my third year." 

Why did you start a career in education?

"I started a career in education because I had been working as a journalist and also I had studied Spanish and so sometimes they used my Spanish skills to um, send me on stories that related to people who speak Spanish. So some of the stories that I came across were those a new law in Illinois too, um, that um, provided bilingual education to all students and um, adults who are learning English as their second language starting at age 60. And it was it was just, um, really fascinating to learn about the, uh, the S a sense of hope that these, um, that the people I had been interviewing had for their future. Um, and I thought with my background of, uh, flubbing reading and writing and, and working with kids and also speaking Spanish, that I wanted to be a part of the, making a difference instead of just writing about it." 

If you could have any other job what would it be and why?

"Um, if I were to have any other job, um, it would probably be related to what my first career was in journalism and, but also using what I do now. So like, uh, journalism and education, writing for, um, a journal of that, um, for higher education, something like that." 

How are kids different now than 30 years ago?

"How are kids different now than 30 years ago? Well, 30 years ago I was about to be six. So when I remember is that, um, my experience was very different than my students because I went to a Catholic elementary school and a tiny, tiny town, Chippewa Falls. Um, there was not a lot of diversity there. Um, I didn't know anyone that spoke a different language than me. And I remember, um, reading out of the, you know, Bazell readers or the text books. I still have some of them from, from school. And I, uh, my other strong memory from is that we, I was like, you know, maybe when computers were first coming into schools and so it was a big deal to go to the computer lab and work on a computer for half an hour every week. Um, so at our school we have a lot of student teachers and so, um, they, I, I think that they see the reality of what teaching is that, that it is hard. It takes up your whole life. You have to be on top of things and really good at planning. Um, and that, you know, you, that all of these tests and studies kind of prepare you to have it in your mind, but, um, to be with the kids and um, see, um, what it's like to have the amazing moment of, you know, teaching someone how to multiply. And then the other side of, you know, dealing with someone who is crying, uncontrolled, uncontrolled, but you have to be kind of ready and prepared for both. It's not just about spitting the content out at students. You have to, you have to develop a relationship with them before you can teach them."
 

What would you tell someone who wants to become a teacher?

"Um, so at our school we have a lot of student teachers and so, um, they, I, I think that they see the reality of what teaching is that, that it is hard. It takes up your whole life. You have to be on top of things and really good at planning. Um, and that, you know, you, that all of these tests and studies kind of prepare you to have it in your mind, but, um, to be with the kids and um, see, um, what it's like to have the amazing moment of, you know, teaching someone how to multiply. And then the other side of, you know, dealing with someone who is crying, uncontrolled but you have to be kind of ready and prepared for both. It's not just about spitting the content out at students. You have to, you have to develop a relationship with them before you can teach them." 

What is one thing you would change to help kids learn better?

"Um, if I could change one thing about our society to help kids learn better, um, it, it would be kind of this rush that I get into my cell here. And then also I see, you know, you know, kids at restaurant getting in this rut of, Oh, let's just put them in front of a screen. And, um, you know, to help, help, have the screen, calm them down or keep them busy. Um, I am, makes me, makes me, you know, kind of jealous that I didn't have all of this growing out, but at the same time, I don't think we understand fully some of the detriments that are happening knowing either. And so we just need to use technology in our devices responsibly. And, um, also the way the headphones at TFD supplies are. Awesome. Thank you so much."