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Joseph Brysiewicz
Social Studies Teacher, Highland Park High School

After student teaching at Deerfield High School in District 113, I came to teach at Grayslake Community High School in District 127. For three years I was a teacher of World History Honors and Advanced Placement European History. My student teaching placement was also in AP European History—and it was this experience that helped me obtain my AP teaching position at Grayslake High School as a first-year teacher.

Within three short years, my role in District 127 had expanded quite steadily. As the curriculum leader for the World History Honors course, I was in charge of textbook selection as well as redevelopment of the whole syllabus. I then moved to the Northern Grayslake High School campus where I was the assistant department chair. As the lead teacher at the new campus, my job included monitoring level changes, administration of department forms, staff development, human resource decisions, and further curricular leadership as the new campus prepares to absorb sophomores, juniors, and seniors.  I then became department chair. In fall 2008 I returned to District 113 to teach in the social studies department. at Highland Park High School.
 
I am an alumnus of Lake Forest College (graduated 2001/ certified January 2002). My continuing role at LFC includes mentoring student teachers in the interview process and informal mentoring of student teachers heading into the job market.

I stay involved with the EAC for a variety of reasons. Firstly, I am committed to both the mission of Lake Forest College in general, and the role of an education major at a liberal arts institution.  The LFC education department provided an excellent foundation in creating the reflective, enthusiastic, and successful teacher I have become, and I feel invested in doing what I can to maintain the quality of such an education. Secondly, the professors (through the EAC and other outreach mechanisms) have diligently attempted to retain the services, wisdom, and experience of their alumni. They see the journey of education as a longitudinal one; the purpose of becoming an education major is not just getting certified, or landing that first job, but rather it is in the constant drive to be an excellent educator.  Finally, the EAC is about what I get back—the feeling of contribution, the fresh ideas of new student teachers, and the ever-needed counsel of my past professors.