Spotlights
Erica (Judd) Reister: Grand Rapids, MI
Year Graduated:
2016
Major/Minor:
Physical Education/School Health Education
Jobs Since Graduation:
2017-Present: Congress Elementary, Mulick Park Elementary and
Blanford Middle School, Grand Rapids, MI - Physical Education Teacher
Thoughts on Time at Grand Valley:
"I received a great education at GVSU! When I first started
in 2010, I planned to pursue a career in psychology. For the first two
years, my schedule was filled with psych courses and I was miserable.
I hated going to class and I was slowly realizing this was a career I
no longer wanted. I was lost. My guidance counselor suggested I pick
up a class or two outside my field of interest to see if I could find
something new I enjoy. The first class I took (outside of my psych
path) was Adapted PE taught by Dr. Colleen Lewis. After week one I was
hooked! I talked to Dr. Lewis about changing my career to Physical
Education and the rest is history. I immediately started loving going
to class! I joined the PE club, began engaging in extracurricular
physical activities and created so many new friendships. I have
maintained several of the friendships I made in the GVPE Program to
this day and am able to exchange resources and ideas with a lot of old
classmates (some of which are PE teachers at GRPS as well)! During my
final year at GV, I had the opportunity to student teach at Sibley
Elementary (GRPS) and that experience lead to my hire two years after
graduating. After three years of being a PE teacher at GRPS, I have
learned so many lessons and have become a stronger and more passionate
teacher. Physical education is such a vital part of elementary
education. It teaches healthy habits, a love of physical fitness and
strengthens social/emotional skills. I am so proud to be a GVSU alumni
and implement many of the skills I gained during my college experience
in my career."
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