Aaron Levinson isn’t the only student at Springwater who looks forward to Friday field studies…but he’s the only one old enough to vote! Aaron is a student teacher enrolled in Lewis & Clark College’s Masters of Arts in Teaching program. He has been working with River Otter teacher Troy Frystak this year gaining hands-on experience, and this trimester, Aaron takes the helm in Troy‘s middle school classroom. Supported by Troy’s mentoring, Aaron is excited to put his training into practice. “I love all the cooperative and place-based learning we do here, how current we are on the best practices I am learning about in my classes at Lewis & Clark, and how we utilize the multiple intelligences in our everyday teaching.” 

Aaron grew up in Fair Lawn, New Jersey - about 20 miles outside of New York City. When he was 16, he became a counselor at an overnight summer camp. “I decided then and there that I wanted to become a teacher,” he explains. “Working with those kids and seeing the difference I was making in their lives, I realized I had found my calling in life.”  Aaron’s interest in working with children led him to other jobs running youth groups, after school programs, substitute teaching…even the 'rough' job of working on a cruise ship as a youth counselor. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

 

In addition to his academic and student teaching responsibilities, Aaron also co-leads the Lewis & Clark graduate school student government. He loves Frisbee golf, hiking, camping, and playing the guitar. He has been taking improv classes, and plans to kick off an improv club at Springwater this month. 

 

“I am taken aback by the Springwater community and how welcoming everyone has been,” remarks Aaron. And then with the same enthusiasm as his sixth and seventh grade students, he adds one final note: “I can't wait for Outdoor School!