By Kelsy Taylor
Marketing '22
Jason Clune has always been passionate about impacting other lives in a positive way, helping others, and interacting with others. Becoming a teacher has allowed him to do so.
“I think that education was a great route for me, because it is a profession that
is very active and involving,” he said. “My classes are very interactive and engaging,
which I really enjoy.”
Now a fifth-grade teacher at Carlin Park Elementary School in Angola, Indiana, Jason originally decided to come to Trine University because he was able to continue his basketball career and because he was impressed by the Franks School of Education.
“Everyone I met from students to faculty were so positive and loved Trine. The atmosphere was amazing and something I wanted to be a part of,” Jason explained. “I actually decided to come one week before my freshman year started, which is not traditional, but I have no regrets and am so happy I made the decision I did.”
At Trine, Jason was able to graduate with more than 1,000 hours of field experience and spent 16 weeks in student teaching. He was able to develop time management, leadership and communication skills while being a student-athlete, which has helped him as a teacher.
“The faculty took any chance they could to make our classes as interactive and engaging as possible using strategies that we could use as a teacher in our own classroom,” he said.
"The faculty took any chance they could to make our classes as interactive and engaging as possible using strategies that we could use as a teacher in our own classroom."- Jason Clune
As a first-year teacher, he does not feel alone, because every teacher has had to adapt to the new changes made due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I currently teach all subjects outside of specials, which include reading, writing, math, social studies and English. I have great supporting staff at Carlin Park and have loved my time there so far,” Jason Explained. “We all have to mask up, sanitize and wipe down desks a lot. I also have a couple students who are full-time virtual students that I am expected to teach throughout the year, so that is something new for me.”
The changes in the classroom have not changed his passion for teaching.
“The conversations about life, school and the connections being made every day is what makes it so worth it,” he said. “I just love the interactions I am able to have with the younger generations of students, and I love watching them interact with each other in a positive way.”
