Hannah Kristiniak – 12
Hamburg Area High School offers senior students to participate in a Professional Field Experience, better known as a PFE. A PFE is a great opportunity for students to explore potential career options. They will get to visually learn what it is like to work in that field. Many students believe this experience to be very beneficial because it helps them make the best choice for their future education.
Erica Gerner, a senior at HAHS, is doing her PFE at Tilden Elementary School. Erica is currently considering being an elementary school teacher. To help her understand the behind-the-scenes of teaching, she set up a PFE for her senior year. She was placed in Mrs. Honicker’s second-grade classroom and goes to Tilden two to three times a week. At the beginning of the year, Erica started by observing Mrs. Honicker and learning how she taught. In addition to observing, Erica also walks around the classroom and answers any questions the students may have. Soon, Erica will lead the class through activities like story time. Despite the short amount of time she has been in her PFE, Erica has already learned many things about teaching. One thing she noticed right away was that the teacher must be loud and project her voice for the students to pay attention. Aside from this experience helping her figure out her plans, Erica enjoys interacting with and getting to know the students. She hopes that this experience will help her understand a style of teaching that works better for elementary students.
If anyone is interested in setting up a PFE, they should speak to the career counselor, Mrs. Del Conte. She will be able to set up this experience in almost any field, so this option is worth exploring for most students.
