HOW I SPENT MY Back on Campus
Returning to her beloved Madison, Katie White finds herself impacted in more ways than one. By Katie White, Primary School Art Teacher This July I found myself packing my bags yet again for the much-anticipated two-week residency for my graduate school program at the University of WisconsinMadison. As part of the Master of Science for Professional Educators program, I participate in online classes during the school year while having the opportunity to study with my cohort in person during the summer. And to ensure that this is a truly authentic college experience, I live in a dorm with my classmates. But what makes this experience even better is that I get to be back in Madison, a city I absolutely love. Walking down State Street to see what’s new and different, watching the sunset at the Memorial Union Terrace, and getting a slice of mac ’n’ cheese pizza at Ian’s are just a few of my favorite things to do while back in the city. My family always visits me for the weekend when I am on campus and we have a favorite tradition of stopping to see the places my husband
30 | prairieschool.com
education professors in the country, I have also connected with talented teachers from around the world. Surprisingly, I think I underestimated the impact of these personal connections on my learning.
Katie White poses with daughters, Meg ’28 and Lauren ’25
Ben and I lived when we were Badgers in the late nineties. (Our daughters Lauren and Meg do not seem to appreciate this walk down memory lane as much as we do.) A highlight of this summer was locating many of the Bucky on Parade statues that were on display throughout Madison and Dane County. As I look towards graduation in May, I am struck by the insights gained by continuing my education. Not only have I had the chance to learn alongside some of the top
I strive to create a supportive learning community in my classroom each year and now I have the chance to experience this process from the vantage point of the student. Continuing my studies has also been a positive, albeit harried, experience for my family. We teach students at Prairie to be lifelong learners and I am excited that my daughters are experiencing all of the adventures (spending time on the UW campus) and challenges (balancing fun with schoolwork) with me. As with so many of life’s more memorable moments, it is both the people and the places involved that make them truly dynamic and transformative. And this summer has proven no different.
