My name is Alina Bitter and I am a student at Chapman University in Orange, CA. I am majoring in Integrated Educational Studies with the hope of teaching first grade. I currently work at the Blind Children's Learning Center, where I am a teacher's assistant for preschoolers aged 0-5, and Orange High School, where I am an AVID tutor for 9th-12th graders.

At the Blind Children's Learning Center, I work alongside teachers in infant and toddler classrooms. I am responsible for helping plan and facilitate lessons and activities, as well as running afternoon childcare. We work closely with the students to achieve goals that they set monthly. At the high school, I assist students with facilitating their discussions about which concepts are confusing them in their core subjects. When I am working with the juniors and seniors, I am a college mentor to them; I help them apply for colleges and scholarships, filling out the FAFSA, and being a college role model and resource for them as they explore potential post-grad endeavors. I will utilize these leadership and facilitation techniques in my own classroom by learning how to engage with students who need extra help and personalizing each student's education.

I believe that teachers have the most important job because we mold and shape the minds of generations to come, and that is not a responsibility to be taken lightly. Every teacher has the ability to make an impact on a child, and every child has the ability to make an impact on the world. I will implement this by being an advocate for each of my students and encouraging them to reach their fullest potential.

Please feel free to contact me anytime at [email protected]