Education Deans: Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas (EDICUT), the association for private colleges and universities, has awarded SAGU student Amarisa Crane as outstanding student teacher.  This award recognizes a student teacher who has demonstrated exceptional instructional ability as well as outstanding professional attributes and characteristics.  Amarisa commented, “I feel very honored. I teach from the heart and enjoy doing what I love. This semester’s student teachers are very talented and I am humbled to have been selected for this award.” 

Amarisa came to SAGU in the Fall of 2004 and entered the Elementary Education (EC-4) program.  According to Crane, “I knew from the age of seven that I wanted to teach and make a difference in the lives of kids.  My elementary teachers taught me the value and love of education.  My dream became to teach children to love to learn.”

While a student at SAGU, Amarisa has been involved in Student Congress, both as the Sophomore Class Vice-President (2005-2006) and the Junior Class President (2006-2007).  She is also actively involved in her church, Crowley Assembly of God, where she is the Children’s Pastor, Middlers Sunday School teacher and Rainbows teacher.  This past semester, Amarisa student taught at the Academy at Nola Dunn in Burleson, Texas.

“I think that the SAGU education faculty is one of the best,” said Crane.  “What I learned in the classrooms of SAGU, I am now applying in the classrooms at an elementary school.  Dr. Goodrich taught me to be the “Living Curriculum.”  This means that I may be the only love and ‘Jesus’ some students see.  It is my job as a Christian teacher to portray Christ-like actions and to respond to situations with love and compassion.  SAGU has helped me reach my dream of teaching.  I feel that I can walk into any classroom and show God’s love while teaching the methods and curriculum given to me by the state.”

Amarisa will graduate on Friday, May 2, 2008.  After graduating, she hopes to find a teaching job in the Burleson area and would love to teach Kindergarten or first grade.  Amarisa is getting married in June and is currently in the process of receiving A/G credentials.