Kerri Soriano

Masters of Arts in Teaching ~ Elementary Education

Bachelors of Science in Psychology ~ Double Minor in Sociology and Management & Leadership

I have had the pleasure of engaging in many unconventional teaching experiences prior to the pursuit of my own classroom. Being from a family of teachers, our conversations often revolve around student success and classroom management styles. My family members have often asked me to privately tutor students from their classes who they identify need extra assistance. I have tutored students from Kindergarten readiness to High School with varying abilities including ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder. While my one on one experience tutoring has offered me the ability to focus on individual learning needs, I also had the privilege to work as a camp counselor and instructor at a STEAM camp. In this role, I followed curriculum and led students in critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. Below is a picture of one of the lovely groups of 3rd-5th graders that I got to spend time learning and growing with. With our world being turned upside down in 2020, I was able to work as a Quarantine Remote Classroom Teacher for Evanston-Skokie School District 65. When students could not attend school due to quarantine, I instructed 4th and 5th grade students in math and reading. The challenge with this particular position was that students were coming from eleven different schools to QRC (Quarantine Remote Classroom), all in different places in their studies and varying abilities, with no background knowledge or student data available. One day of QRC varied between one student to sixty students at a time. 

My traditional experience includes student teaching in a 3rd grade classroom in Naperville District 203 and working as both a Teaching Assistant and Permanent Substitute at Cass District 63 in Darien. During my student teaching, I first observed and learned from an experienced teacher who valued equitable learning and a holistic student approach. Then it was my turn to slowly take over the class, one block at a time, synthesizing and adapting curriculum to meet each students' needs. As this was my first time in the classroom, it was highly transformative in kickstarting my knowledge and comfortability in a formal educational environment. At Cass District 63, I was a TA for Kindergarten during the first semester of the school year and a TA for 1st grade during the second semester. As a TA, I was able to work both one on one with students who had specific learning needs as well as work with small groups of students on both re-teach and enrichment. In my current role as a Permanent Substitute for Cass D63, I have worked with every child in the building (Pre-K to 4th Grade) as well as stepped in for nearly every educator role at one time or another. This experience has been indispensable for me as an educator, learning from classroom teachers, support staff, and administration.

It is this unique mixture of unconventional and traditional classroom experience, in which I find confidence, comfort, and passion for education. All the students I have encountered are resilient and we have helped each other get through various challenges together while learning from and teaching each other a thing or two!