I am a first-year teacher and I am currently halfway through my EPI program at Polk State College. I am teaching fifth grade Language Arts at a Title I school, and I recently had my first formal evaluation as a teacher. My principal not only provided me with both effective and highly effective ratings, but she also sent out a school-wide e-mail lauding me for my use of various student engagement techniques and rubrics. This was a tremendous honor, especially for a teacher who had only been in the job for 3 months.

I feel that the training I have received in the EPI program, along with the opportunity to attend a Harry Wong conference, gave me many of the tools I have used to both thrive and succeed in my first year of teaching. I look forward to completing the rest of my EPI courses and learning more to help my future students.

Brindy Branneky