Jackson Peckinpaugh started student teaching at HC in January.

Jackson Peckinpaugh is currently an undergraduate student at Eastern Kentucky University who is majoring in secondary history and English education. He just recently finished his time as a student teacher for his English credit with Ms. El-Amin, and has now transferred to student teaching with Mr. Montgomery for his History credit. Peckinpaugh has generously shared his experience so far at HC, detailing how his time at our school has shaped him as a teacher and a human being. 

Peckinpaugh, fondly known as Mr. P, started student teaching at HC in January and so far has taught lessons in AP Literature to AP African American Studies. Looking back, Peckinpaugh believes his experience to be positive.

“I think it is sort of indicative of me that I’ve had a positive experience,” said Peckinpaugh. “Just being here generally and getting to meet all of [the students] has also been a wonderful experience.”

Education is a route many take career wise for various reasons. Peckinpaugh has taken it partly because of his family.

“I wanted to be a teacher because my great grandmother and my grandma and my mother were all English teachers,” said Peckinpaugh. “So naturally, it felt like the route I should take once I left high school.”

Additionally, Peckinpaugh believes his career choice is also a way for him to make a difference.

“Being able to see students develop and become civically engaged adults and members of the community, if I can facilitate that or be a part of that in some way, then I feel like I’m making a difference in my community, and that’s really positive for me,” said Peckinpaugh.

Student teaching is a wonderful opportunity for those majoring in education to understand their own teaching style as well as why they chose teaching as their profession. Some of Peckinpaugh’s goals for his time as a student teacher is to “become, well, one, a better teacher and a pedagogical sense, but also to just have my content knowledge, really build my base, and understand how to relate to students on a teaching level.”

When asked how he would describe HC after he finishes student teaching, Peckinpaugh said “I don’t really have anything to complain about. It’s been really awesome, and I think I’m lucky to have gotten to work with and teach with not only great teachers, but great students as well. I think that sort of speaks to HC’s school climate. I’ve been really, really happy and blessed to be able to participate in such a wonderful and really welcoming school.”

Peckinpaugh is just one of the few student teachers here at HC. Their opportunity to learn is also our opportunity to learn and help push forward the next generation of teachers while they simultaneously do the same thing for students.