University News

Just Hired: Samantha Smith

November 14, 2024

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Just Hired! Through the experiences of local, regional, national and international students, Western Illinois University has some incredible alumni who are changing the world in the workforce. This series will feature students from all over the world who are hired post-graduation.

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL - - Meet Samantha Smith, a December 2023 graduate of the Education program, who recently accepted a position as a Secondary English Education teacher at Rochester High School in Springfield, IL.

"RHS is a public high school in Rochester, located just outside of Springfield. Our school motto is that we have a Tradition of Excellence! Our mascot is the Rochester Rockets. It's a great day to be a Rocket," Smith said.

Smith recalls her job hunt took a few months before receiving a call for an interview.

"They asked me about my approach to teaching, what skills and experience I had, and why I would be a good fit for RHS. During the interview, I discovered they had an additional opening to fill in for the rest of the current semester. They initially ended up hiring another recent graduate from Milikin for the position I interviewed for, and she has now become my best work friend. They hired someone else who was located closer to fill the position temporarily, but that didn't work out.

Smith continues on her interview process, which eventually led to a successful offer.

"So after another month of interviewing anywhere I could, I received another phone call from RHS that the semester position was open again and they were offering me the position for the end of March-May. I took the position and commuted 90 minutes both ways every day for the rest of the semester, and at the end of May, they rehired me full-time for the current school year as the freshman English teacher. Those 2 months were genuinely a trial by fire, in that I had to learn and grow so much in such a short period. However, it also allowed me to create some wonderful relationships, and my students from last semester still come by to say hi daily and talk me up to their other teachers," Smith said.

Smith feels Western gave her the skills and tools needed to get her teaching certification for both middle and secondary English classes.

"I am so grateful to the incredible professors I had and great friends I made during my time at WIU," Smith said.

Smith stays involved with the WIU Alumni Association.

To share your hiring story with WIU, visit forms.gle/him2LFf9eyCb5yKk9.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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