The
Education Coffeehouse is a labor of love that has provided
Marsha Bass the opportunity to share the knowledge she
has gained through a unique career that has taken her
from classroom teacher to administrator to the vocational
setting to her current assignment as a full time online
Associate Professor for Kaplan University. She provides
straight talk on education issues for parents, tips
for educators who are nearing burnout, and answers
to tough questions for students. "It has
been proven that a lack of parental involvement plays
a great role in low achievement," states Bass.
"But I do not believe that parents simply don't
care. I believe that many of them aren't quite sure
as to how to help their students. They need some straight
talk about education and answers to their questions
so they can be the advocates they must be in order for
their children to enjoy some level of success in the
classroom." Parents can now find that information
at Going Back to the Classroom, a section of
the Education Coffeehouse (www.educationcoffeehouse.com)
devoted solely to providing parents with the guidance
they need to assist their struggling students. Bass
provides straight talk on issues such as "Why
Parents Should Attend Parent/Teacher Conferences"
and "My Child Has Been Sent to the Office
for Behavior Problems, What Happens Next?".
Bass has had quite a unique career in education.
Having received her post graduate teaching license from
Indiana University in 1992, Marsha served in the capacity
of Yearbook and Newspaper Sponsor, Journalism Instructor
and Academic English Instructor at Elkhart Central High
School all in her first year. Her second year in teaching
brought the challenge of teaching Gifted and Talented
students in addition to her other responsibilities.
At the beginning of her 3rd year, she was appointed
to the administrative position of Administrative Assistant
for Student Affairs and was primarily responsible for
handling the bulk of discipline and attendance issues
of the 1150 member student body. Her short term in this
position however, was marked with recognitions for the
development of the Alternative Discipline Program
which provided troubled students with an option of serving
in the community in some capacity instead of being placed
on in or out of school suspension for behavioral and/or
attendance problems.
The
classroom, however, proved to be her first love and
in 1997, she asked to return. The only available position
in her area of expertise was at the Elkhart Area Career
Center where she would be responsible for teaching vocational
students Language Arts and serving as the liaison between
staff and the community as the School-to-Work Coordinator.
She served at the Career Center not only in the
position of Academic English Instructor, but also as
an Integrated Communications Instructor who is responsible
for teaching the connection between communications to
vocational students within the context of their chosen
fields. Currently, her career has expanded to include
full time online instruction at Kaplan
University where she serves as Course Leader for
Effective Writing I for Criminal Justice Majorsin the
Composition Department and writing for Glencoe/McGraw-Hill.
"This is an exciting time for me," remarked
Bass. "Working from home allows me to continue
to teach and use my writing talents. But I'm also finally
able to concentrate on the most important job I have
- raising my two sons."
Teachers
who are struggling with burnout can also find assistance
through Professional Development in 60 Seconds,
a section of The Education Coffeehouse that provides
information on how teachers can lower their frustration
levels and learn how to love the profession again. "We
have a great deal on our plate. It's probably hard to
believe, but, as an English teacher, I didn't grade
work at home any more. Changing that one nasty habit
not only lowered my frustration level but helped my
students' writing skills immensely. Re-invention
is a process that must be completed in no more than
3 year intervals in order for the educator to remain
effective in the classroom." A special section
devoted to vocational instructors is also provided.
"Their strength lies in their many years of workplace
experience. They have an extremely unique challenge
in leaving the workplace to teach, sometimes without
much opportunity to prepare."
