Jessica M. Bourscheid ’17 chose ĻӰ because it offered her the opportunity to continue working full-time during the day and take classes at night. “Shenandoah will do anything to help out their students and staff,” said Bourscheid. “Don’t be afraid to ask for help or guidance, someone is always there for you.”
Bourscheid is a fourth grade teacher at in Leesburg, Virginia. In her position, she meets the diverse needs of every single student in her class, all while teaching the state standards. Bourscheid just completed her first year of teaching, and believes it was the most rewarding year of her life.
“Every day I would wake up because there were 19 kiddos who needed me,” said Bourscheid. “My students had diverse backgrounds, needs, and I showed up each day because of them. My students taught me so much about love, compassion, dedication, and the innocence of life. I left each day with a smile on my face because of them.”
Bourschied was named the 2019 Elementary New Teacher of the Year for Loudoun County Public Schools, and says she wouldn’t have gotten to where she is today without the learning experiences and guidance that Shenandoah provided her. The classes she took at the university prepared her to teach in what she calls “today’s classroom,” and she is extremely thankful for her professors and what she learned in the program.
Bourscheid’s advice to students is: “Embrace each day as a new day. We have one of the hardest professions, and it can be taxing on our physical and mental health. I wake up each day reminding myself that I have a bigger purpose and that these kids rely on me. Do it for the kids.”