Amber Brown

810 S. Main St, Unit B

Yuma, CO 80759
970-301-5712
Brown4633@aol.com

April 26, 2017

Dear Sir or Madam,

In what year did the United States declare its independence? At what point in the year does the
American presidential election take place? These are questions that everyone who has taken U.S. History
or American Government should be able to answer easily. I however know several people who struggle to
answer these questions. It is for this very reason that we need more awesome and dedicated social studies
teachers guiding our students. It is with this in mind that I am submitting my portfolio for licensure in the
State of Colorado.
I graduated in December 2014 with a degree in history and no idea what I was going to do with it.
Since then I have had the opportunity to work in several different environments, within and out of
schools, which have allowed me to see the world differently. I have come to believe that many issues that
exist in the world stem from a lack of understanding of the subjects within the realm of social studies. As
such I have been working with the Colorado Department of Education to obtain my teaching license
through the Alternative Teacher Licensing Program. As a social studies teacher I hope to intertwine the
topics of psychology, sociology, history, geography, and various cultures into every lesson so students
walk away with an encompassing view of the world they live in.
The up until this past year the majority of my background is working with elementary and
preschool age students rather than middle and high school students. I do not believe that this will be a
hindrance as many of the same ideas and principles regarding keeping students involved, providing an
encouraging classroom, as well as appropriate student discipline in the school environment are the same.
Whether younger or older students one thing remains the same, if the student feels valued they are willing
to go that extra mile. One of the reasons that I am draw to West End Public Schools is the small rural
environment. Regardless of the age of my students there is one that that does not change, relationships. I
remember most is the relationships that I was able to form with my teachers. So much of middle and high
school is the relationships that are formed and the confidence that is built within students.
I believe that both my enthusiasm for all the topics encompassed in social studies is what will
make me an effective history teacher today and into the future. I have a passion for my topic and a
passion for my students and want to serve both well.

Amber Brown