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Educating Future Educators: An Interview with Sr. Karen

Her Campus Placeholder Avatar Betsy Roy
Her Campus Placeholder Avatar Sammy Martin
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Emmanuel chapter.

Culminating our education themed week, Her Campus Emmanuel interviewed the head of Emmanuel’s Education Department, Sister Karen Hokanson. As a Massachusetts native, Sr. Karen works to inspire the minds of future teachers. Read what she has to say below!

Hometown: Whitman, Massachusetts

Schools attended: Whitman-Hanson Regional High School, Aquinas College, Salem State University, Boston University, University of Massachusetts Boston, University of Massachusetts Lowell

Favorite subjects: Business and History.

HCE: Why did you decide to pursue a career in education?

Sr. K: I pursed education because of my love for teaching youth, and in a response to the foundress of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, who told her Sisters to give students the tools they need for life.

HCE: Who was your most inspiring teacher and why?

Sr. K: Mrs. Grace Lapworth because she valued each student and helped each student meet their potential.

HCE: What’s a barrier, obstacle, or challenge that students in the Boston Public Schools face, and how should our community work to solve it?

Sr. K: A challenge is to see the value of each student and know that each student is created to be great.  A teacher uses the human tools of life to craft great people and I am honored to help students move beyond barriers, face obstacles, and say yes to challenges.

HCE: As the head of the Education Department, you encounter future teachers everyday. Do you have any advice for them?

Sr. K: Love and respect the students in front of you; they hold many dreams and challenges.

HCE: What’s your favorite part about being a professor at Emmanuel?

Sr. K: Students, faculty, and staff  help shape the culture of community at Emmanuel.

HCE: Have you ever had an awkward run-in with a student?

Sr. K: All encounters have been positive and I love meeting Emmanuel students.

HCE: Have you read a book that has influenced your perspective on the classroom or school in general?

Sr. K: Yes,  Jonathan Kozol:  Letters to a Young Teacher.

HCE: Lastly, in one word, what does education mean to you?

Sr. K: Respect.

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Betsy Roy

Emmanuel

Betsy is a senior at Emmanuel College studying secondary education and history, and is the chapter's Social Media Director. Believing she'll pen the next Great American Novel, Betsy enjoys: art museums, long walks on the beach, and napping in front of fireplaces.
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Sammy is a senior at Emmanuel College, majoring in English: Communications & Media Studies with a minor in Music-Theater. She discovered Her Campus through College Fashion Week: Boston, and has since re-launched Emmanuel's chapter and become a National Intern. On campus, Sammy gives weekly tours as an Admissions Ambassador, is a member of the Honors Program and stars in an as many theatrical productions as possible. She was also an Orientation Leader for the Class of 2019. Outside of school, she works as a sales associate at Charlotte Russe and manages a personal style blog called Backyard Beauty. An obsessive organizer, social media addict and fashion maven, Sammy dreams of living a lavish life as a magazine contributor in New York City after graduation. Follow her on Twitter @sammysays19 and Instagram @backyardbeautyxo or visit backyardbeautyxo.tumblr.com/.