Being in a classroom is nothing new for Allison Crocker. The University of Maine at Farmington senior has spent most of the past 17 years learning about reading, writing and arithmetic. But as her May graduation date approaches, she has been moving from student to teacher.

In January, Crocker, a primary education major, began her final college semester student-teaching at Edgecomb Eddy School. For the past 10 weeks, she’s been teaching technology and science classes to fourth and fifth graders, and technology, science and literacy to sixth graders.

It seems her pupils appreciate her lessons and classroom demeanor. Fifth grader William Clifford described her as “nice and fun.” His classmate Luke Morley also likes how she manages a classroom.

“She is nice and doesn’t have a lot rules,” he said. Crocker’s pupils also find her lessons interesting. In science class, she discussed the water cycle to the fascination of one student in particular. Clifford was amazed to learn about transpiration.

“Trees transpirate no, I mean transpire,” he said. “That’s when water runs down them like they are sweating.” 

Crocker is not only imparting knowledge, she is receiving it. Her student-teaching experience has been useful in developing her skills. As a UMF student, Crocker would spend a few hours per week in an elementary school classroom. But as a student-teacher, she spends the entire school day with students.

“As a student-teacher you see the fuller picture of what it is like being a teacher,” she said. “I’m here Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. so you form a really good bond with the students.”

Crocker is the first student-teacher at Edgecomb Eddy since Lisa Clarke became principal. Clarke described the kindergarten through grade six school as a great place for a young teacher to begin. Clarke described Crocker as showing great potential as a future educator.

“She seems to have a natural ability to work with children,” Clarke said. “I’ve observed her in the classroom and she has an innate ability to communicate with her students. I think she has what it takes to become an effective teacher.”

Crocker is following in the footsteps of several family members who pursued education as a career. She is the daughter of Boothbay Region High School Dean of Students Allan Crocker and Boothbay Region Elementary School grade two teacher Barbara Carbone-Crocker. Her grandmother Diane Crocker was a longtime Boothbay Region educator and her aunt on her mother’s side, Susan Folsom, is a teacher in Manchester. Allison Crocker decided to pursue a teaching career because of her passion for children.

“We have a lot of teachers in our family. So that’s one connection I have to the profession. I also enjoy teaching young students. I’ve enjoyed my time in the classroom and also coaching Little League softball and other Y League teams.”

Crocker graduated from BRHS in 2013. UMF had two things making it an attractive location for Crocker to pursue her college education.

“UMF has a great reputation for producing great teachers and I wanted to play basketball.” She played three seasons for the UMF basketball team and one season on the softball team.

Crocker also sees herself as a future coach. “Sports has been a part of my life and I definitely see myself coaching at some point,” she said.

Crocker graduates in May, but she expects to finish the school year with her Edgecomb Eddy School students. She hopes to find a teaching position close to home next fall. If not, she plans on returning to UMF in pursuit of a master’s degree in education.