UH Student Teacher of the Year

A long-time school volunteer, Spring Branch/Memorial resident and mom is the 2014 University of Houston College of Education Student Teacher of the Year.

Kari Young, who recently graduated from UH following studies in early childhood through sixth grade, spent her student-teaching year at Westwood Elementary School and Spring Oaks Middle School in Spring Branch ISD.

She has accepted a teaching position at Spring Oaks Middle School for fall 2014.
“We are very proud of Kari. She has displayed true leadership and outstanding educator qualities during her time as a student teacher,” said Amber Thompson, director of the UH college’s student teaching program.

“Our teacher education program is an award-winning, Tier One teacher preparation program. Kari is most deserving of this recognition and we know that she will touch the lives of many children during her education career,” she also said.

The Student Teacher of the Year award is given to an outstanding student-teaching candidate who excels in teaching skill, knowledge and talent. Selections are made by college faculty and supervisory staff.

Kari Young was chosen from a group of more than 200 student-teaching candidates, all of whom submitted a sample lesson plan for consideration.

Kari’s lesson was titled “Gravity in Space” and was delivered to a sixth-grade science class under the supervision of her cooperating classroom teacher.

“I push my students to achieve, and I support them with encouragement and genuine belief that they can do anything with hard work and persistence,” she said.

Kai has been volunteering in schools for more than 15 years in the U.S. and Malaysia. She is a mother, and has traveled overseas for the last five years. She’s an active member of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), and she has attended many conferences, including recent meetings of the Conference for the Advancement of Science Teaching (CAST).

The University of Houston is a Carnegie-designated Tier One public research university recognized by The Princeton Review as one of the nation's best colleges for undergraduate education.

UH serves the globally competitive Houston and Gulf Coast Region by providing world-class faculty, experiential learning and strategic industry partnerships. Located in the nation's fourth-largest city, UH serves more than 39,500 students in the most ethnically and culturally diverse region in the country.

The UH Office of University Communication compiled this report.