My name is Clayton Kistner, and I'm currently a Junior at Kansas State University studying Secondary Education - English. I'm originally from Shawnee, KS where I attended Mill Valley High School and was actively involved in Student Council, concert and jazz bands, theatre, and Boy Scout Troop 123 (Eagle Scout, 2013)
At K-State, I serve as the Vice President for the College of Education Ambassadors, Vice President of Membership for the Epsilon Pi Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi, and play sousaphone for The Pride of Wildcat Land, the Kansas State University Marching Band, along with other athletic bands.
During the summers I work with Johnson County Parks & Recreation as a Lead Teacher for their LEAD Camp, a day camp for 11-14 year-olds that's focused on developing leadership and community service skills in students. I also volunteer every summer with Royal Family Kids' Camp, a nationwide organization that offers summer camp and school-year programs for abused and neglected children in the foster system.
Language Arts is something that is very close to my heart, both as a student and a future educator. I believe that literature and writing are two of the best ways for students to explore their personal identity and the identity of others, and English teachers have a very unique opportunity to shape the lives of their students for the better. I'm specifically interested in diverse adolescent literature that gives students the chance to expand their worldview, get excited about reading, and discover the opportunities available to them outside of the traditional literary canon.
At K-State, I serve as the Vice President for the College of Education Ambassadors, Vice President of Membership for the Epsilon Pi Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi, and play sousaphone for The Pride of Wildcat Land, the Kansas State University Marching Band, along with other athletic bands.
During the summers I work with Johnson County Parks & Recreation as a Lead Teacher for their LEAD Camp, a day camp for 11-14 year-olds that's focused on developing leadership and community service skills in students. I also volunteer every summer with Royal Family Kids' Camp, a nationwide organization that offers summer camp and school-year programs for abused and neglected children in the foster system.
Language Arts is something that is very close to my heart, both as a student and a future educator. I believe that literature and writing are two of the best ways for students to explore their personal identity and the identity of others, and English teachers have a very unique opportunity to shape the lives of their students for the better. I'm specifically interested in diverse adolescent literature that gives students the chance to expand their worldview, get excited about reading, and discover the opportunities available to them outside of the traditional literary canon.