This is Me

Hey Everyone,

My name is Dane Swanson and I am a third grade teacher in Centennial, Colorado.  This is my 10th year of teaching.  I am a third-generation teacher, so I guess you could say it runs in the blood.  This is my last class for my master's degree.  I am excited to finish strong as well as getting my weekends and free time back. I really enjoy the mountains, music, and food.  

I got married a little over a year ago.  So marriage, master's degree, and soon, I hope to begin a family.  I love teaching and all the challenges that it brings.  I view it as giving every possible best piece of me to all my students in hopes of helping to create successful and caring future leaders.  There's definitely never a dull day in class!  I view myself as a dynamic thinker who can bring a fresh spin to old ideas in teaching.  I think that is one of the reasons why I love technology so much; you can fit it into all aspects of education.  Plus, students today will need to be able to use technology effectively for the rest of their lives.  Why not get them off to a great start?

Finally, I felt like it would be nice to share a couple pieces I wrote for my writing class that I recently wrapped up.  I love challenging myself at both right and left brain activities.


Thank you,

Dane



My Narrative:

I have an engine within me.  It is stoked by questions, knowledge, and curiosity.  It has been propelling me forward for the last three decades; each year getting stronger and stronger as this endless journey continues.  As I look back at the terrain I’ve traveled over, I feel proud and grateful.  I have had moments in this journey where my direction was lost; filled with breakdowns and detours.  I would doubt myself and my abilities, but somewhere, deep inside of me, no matter how dim that fire was, my engine still churned.  And with that, I refused to ever give up on myself.  Some way and somehow, I was able to get back on the tracks.  I have learned how to climb up mountains that once would have slowed me down.  I have learned how to weather storms that would have clouded my navigation.  With this experience, my engine is stronger than ever: it is unstoppable.

            During these experiences, passenger cars have been linking to me; one after another, year after year.  I am able to pull them up mountains and guide them in the darkest and most miserable of nights.  Someday, they will have treacherous journeys of their own; some more than others.  I am here to help prepare them for the challenge.  There are days where the harsh elements try to put this fire out, but as I look back at all the passengers I’ve had, and the ones I have now, I know there is no way it will ever extinguish.  We face these challenges together.  They look to me for courage and guidance, and with this vital responsibility, my flame drives me further and further knowing that I can never let them down.  These passengers will go on to add passenger cars of their own to their engines one day, for their wonderfully endless journey of questions, knowledge, and curiosity; thus perpetuating this process that has been so gratifyingly bestowed upon me.

For the Teachers -

and the Students

(Villanelle)

Remember, you’re a wonderful teacher

I give my best effort repeatedly

And at the end of every tiringly long day

Things today were pretty awful and rough

A loving, community leader

Please don’t ever give up on me

Even when you have parents who seether

Sometimes my mind is in a fantasy

The student who wants nothing but to play

Dad struck me again; said I’m not tough

Remember, you’re a wonderful teacher

I give my best effort repeatedly

Your at-risk girl, you try to reach her

My mom is always jacked up on weed

The vulnerable boy being led astray

Got bullied again; enough is enough

A loving, community leader

Please don’t ever give up on me

Twenty-something souls depending on you to be there

My classroom is a place of safety

Damn right, it’s not about the pay

I’m sorry that I’m always so gruff

Remember, you’re a wonderful teacher

I give my best effort repeatedly

You never knew you possessed all these features

Even with all of these faults that you see

When things around you feel like they’re in decay

When you are real with me - cut the fluff

A loving, community leader

Please don’t ever give up on me

You will constantly become better

My small improvements made incrementally

And nothing in this world will ever outweigh

You. You are my stable source of love

Remember: you’re a wonderful teacher;

I gave you my best effort repeatedly

Their loving, community leader.
You haven’t given up on me.