About Me

Hi! My name is Janice O'Brien and I am currently an elementary substitute teacher in Des Moines, IA. I graduated from Upper Iowa University with honors in December of 2008. I began this journey in the summer of 2003 and did about half of my college classes online through Des Moines Area Community College before transferring to Upper Iowa.

I am lucky to be married to my wonderful husband, Rob, who, along with my two children, have sacrificed much and always supported me while I pursue my goals. I have spent most of the second semester of last school year as a sub and I feel that my goal of being a classroom teacher is just beyond my reach. However, I am not giving up and thus decided in May to embark on my current journey of taking graduate classes.
 

My interest in teaching began as a child when I experienced the joys of learning from a wonderful teacher. Then in 1999, I was hired by the school district as a Special Education Associate. I worked with students who have Autism and Down's Syndrome. One student that I worked closely with for three years was my inspiration to go back to school to get my teaching degree. I have a gift that he gave to me at the end of the last year I worked with him and this gift will be the first item I place in my classroom.
 

I am interested in the technology aspect and the opportunities educators have with integrating it into their curriculum. As an associate, I was often called on by teachers and administration to assist implementing technology into the classroom and throughout my undergraduate work, I included technology, some of which was adapted by teachers I worked with, into my lessons.