Professional Knowledge

Prentice J. Sargeant
Social Studies: 6-12 Licensure

Professional Knowledge

Professional knowledge is at the crux of the educator’s job description. Without it, he or she cannot complete the task of passing along important knowledge and skills in an effective and meaningful manner. In order to accomplish this task, educators must have sufficient content knowledge in relation to their discipline and exceptional pedagogical knowledge, allowing them to transmit material, skills, and best practices to their students. To demonstrate mastery in both fields, teachers must have completed collegiate programs in their given field and in education, pass the required professional assessments related to the content area, and complete field experience in a local school. Completion of these three requirements are essential for any effective teacher.

Education:

I am completing my second Master’s Degree at Hollins University, proving my mastery of pedagogical knowledge. I have also earned a Master’s in American History and a Bachelor’s in History from George Mason University and Christopher Newport University respectively, proving my mastery of social studies content knowledge. My Master’s in American History makes me eligible to teach Dual Enrollment U.S./Virginia History. Below are writing samples from my two history degrees as examples of my research and writing abilities, as well as my content knowledge.

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Professional Assessments:

To prepare appropriately for a career in teaching, I have completed two professional assessments to prove my content mastery. I completed the Praxis II test on Social Studies content knowledge, as well as the VCLA to demonstrate my mastery of reading and writing. On the Praxis II, I earned the recognition of Excellence, meaning I scored in the top 15% of all test takers. My score reports are listed below:

Below are some certificates of achievement I earned as a history student, again proving my mastery of content knowledge:

Field Experience:

While attending Hollins, I completed two field experiences: a 125 hour internship during the month of January followed by a semester-long student teaching experience. The first was at Lucy Addison Middle School in Roanoke City. At Addison, I observed and assisted teaching in a 7th Grade U.S. History course. The experience was my first taste of teaching in a public school setting and needless to say, it was a thrilling experience.

My second experience was at Cave Spring High School in Roanoke County. At Cave Spring, I phased in for two weeks, assumed all class duties for eight weeks, and phased out in the final week. I taught three sections of a 10th Grade Pre-AP World History II class and two sections of a 12th Grade Government class. The experience was most illuminating because I was able to teach two different age groups and two different developmental groups. I had to alter my teaching methods in between the two classes, so I was able to master teaching to a wide variety of students.

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Contact Information:
Prentice J. Sargeant
prentice.sargeant@gmail.com
540-797-8373