An Ohio Northern University education major spent her last semester at ONU teaching high school students an uncommon advanced-level curriculum.
Kyra Hanes double-majored in social studies education and history with a minor in theater.
A native of Dublin, Ohio and graduate of Dublin Jerome High School, she returned to the Dublin City School District for her final stint of student teaching.
Throughout her time at ONU, she observed and taught at many different schools in Hardin and Allen counties, but her final placement at the Dublin City Schools Emerald Campus allowed her to expand on her own education while doing the same for her students.
The Emerald Campus is Dublin City Schools’ International Baccalaureate (IB) and academy school. Hanes’ placement there allowed her to explore alternative education options from those typically experienced during student teaching rotations.
International Baccalaureate is a more common education option used by European students to get into college. It’s not as commonly used in the United States, although it is an honors diploma option through the Ohio Department of Education in one- and two-year options.
Hanes said the goal of IB is to teach information in a practical way outside of remembering the information for a test.
“It really challenges students to not just learn about the content. You’re learning the content, gaining skills within that content, and gaining skills to use throughout life,” Hanes said.
She said the IB structure uses a concept called “Theory of Knowledge,” which challenges students to look beyond information and answers, and to study how skills in daily life can be learned from the information given.
“What’s great about the IB program is the students are able to gain college credit in their area of study after taking the courses and taking an end-of-year exam,” said Hanes.
After gaining a great deal of knowledge and experiences teaching in a rural community setting, Hanes decided she wanted to teach in her suburban hometown. A former teacher suggested she reach out to Dublin’s IB program teacher.
She then wrote a letter to the ONU Center for Teaching Education sharing her desire and how it would not only benefit herself but also her peers.
While student teachers typically perform their field work near ONU, Hanes said she was grateful for the support she received in venturing to the Columbus suburb. She said University faculty had questions surrounding the non-traditional coursework she would be teaching, but once she presented her plans and reasons for wanting to teach it, she immediately received their support.
“I feel like anybody would be hesitant. I mean, I was hesitant at first, because it was completely new to me,” Hanes said, “but they were excited to learn what IB was and that made me more excited. I’m grateful I could help pave the way for future teachers to student teach within this discipline.”
Hanes said she has been supported throughout her entire career at ONU as she worked from being a high school student who at times struggled, to an educator working with students on college-level coursework.
The encouragement and education she received at ONU has inspired her teaching career, she added.