Alana Clerkin shadowed art teacher Kevin Grummun at Springfield Middle School for 7:45 am to 2:30 pm. During the shadowing experience, she observed Mr. Grummun teach three art classes and engage students in fun projects. Mr. Grummun was open about his profession and concerns about challenges like keeping up with changing educational policies. While Alana originally considered being an art teacher, she now thinks it may be better as a backup career due to not wanting to deal with administrative issues.

1. Alana Clerkin
Mr. Kevin Gummun, Art Teacher, Springfield Middle School
Job Shadow Evaluation
Hours: 7:45 am - 2:30 pm
1.For my shadow experience, I observed Kevin Grummun, an art teacher at Springfield Middle
School. I arrive and introduced myself to him and his student teacher, and then they review their
lesson plan to me for each of there classes. After that, there was a brief period before the students
arrived during which I asked questions about the profession. Then the students arrived and we went
through three class periods, all of which were engaged with simple but fun art projects that the stu-
dents seemed to enjoy.
2.The experience was positive because my mentor was very open and honest about his profession,
and was very willing to answer my questions.
3.The challenge that my mentor seemed most concerned about in regards to his profession was the
rapid change in educational policy. He felt that at times it is hard to keep up with all of the new reg-
ulations and changes, and he gets frustrated frequently with how they effect his classroom.
4.I thought that originally that I wanted to be an art teacher, but now I would much rather have it
serve as a backup to a different career. I still want to pursue a teaching certification, but I’m not
sure I could handle dealing with an administration.
5.The way I chose to network was to talk to someone in the art profession who would have more
connections then I do, and that was Ms. Gallagher. She had taught my mentor in high school and
knew that he was teaching in springfield, so she e-mailed him for me and we set up a date.
6.Mr. Grummun decided he wanted to be an art teacher because of his experience in high school
with art, as well as the fact that it combines his two loves (fine art and working with kids). He re-
ceived his B.S. in Art Education from Kutztown university, which was also a great determining fac-
tor in his decision to become a teacher.
7.My mentor exemplified the ability to get along well with others by showing how responsive and
patient he was with his student teacher and his students, as well as involvement with his communi-
ty, which he does by getting involved with organizations in Philadelphia that reach out to the
youth for free in his spare time. Both of these traits help immensely with working in his profession.
8.I think that the coolest part of this profession would be the ability to impact a child's life for the
better. Its always been a goal of mine to be able to inspire kids to be creative and imaginative, so
this is definitely a career that can incorporate that desire.

2. 9.The least appealing part of this career is that you can never actually be “your own boss”. I want to
one day have the ability to either owen my own business or to basically be in charge of myself.
When you are a teacher, you always need to answer to an administration, a principal, a department
head. I don't think I could handle that for my whole life without getting resentful.
10. I have learned that just because you are a professional doesn't mean you cant still do your pas-
sion outside of your work. I could be an art teacher, and a freelance artist on the side and still love
what i do. I also learned that even though teaching might not be the perfect path for me, I still
would really love to work with children.