Entering East High School as a plant and dog mom, fresh out of college, from dedicated student teacher, to being a long-term sub, to now being an established East High staff member, Kaitlyn Beck has made a very fast journey from student to teacher. But her life wasn’t always dedicated to her teaching career.

Beck lived in Lancaster, California for most of her life, moving there in the fifth grade. At 18, she moved to Iowa to go to college in Pella, Iowa at Central College. She later ended up studying at Drake for her MAT (Master of Arts and Teaching).

“I was passionate about baking and originally went to college for business management to either be a band manager or have my own bakery,” Beck said.

Beck went through many years of different jobs, with retail and baking management, Beck decided that baking was not for her due to the early hours that baking required. It was very stressful as a long-term job and took the joy out of baking for joy rather than as a job.

“Well, we all wake up at 2 in the morning, and if things go wrong, it’s very personal,” Beck said.

Ginger Johnson, one of Beck’s biggest models on her journey to where she is now, speaks very fondly of her and her professionalism. when Johnson was asked about how Beck’s teaching has changed over the semester, she student taught in Johnson’s classroom, Johnson had nothing but positive things to say.

“I think she’s found and enjoyed doing activities that require students to be involved in the classroom,” Johnson said.

She also described Beck as very student-centered and as being a caring, energetic person.

“I hope she’s here for a long time,” Johnson said. “I think she would make a great addition to East High School.”

As Beck was student teaching, she made lasting imprints on many students. One of those students includes senior Dante Lewis. Lewis, who was a very funny and hard-working student in AP Language and Composition, said that Beck was very good at shaping the students’ learning.

“She was really into all her students, she would come up to you personally and I would say she shaped my learning well,” Lewis said.

When asked about how well Beck was suited for the English VI position, Lewis spoke highly of this semester’s new teacher.

“I would say she is (suited), she has had experience working in the English curriculum,” Lewis said.