About Me
Hello and welcome to my online portfolio. My name is Sacha Appel and I am currently a student at Loyola University Chicago working towards my M.Ed in School and Community Counseling. I previously taught kindergarten at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy and elementary grades at Bernard Zelle Anshe Emet Day School in Lakeview, Chicago. In 2021, I received my B.S. in Early Childhood Education from DePaul University and my Professional Educator License (PEL) with endorsements in Early Childhood Education (birth-age 8) and ESL (pre-k-2nd grade) with an approval in special education (years 3-5). At DePaul, I was named on the Dean’s List every quarter and graduated Summa Cum Laude.
Although I have always had a love for being around children, it wasn’t until my little brother, Henry, was born when I was 16 years old that I considered becoming an educator. Since then, I have had the privilege to teach with students of all ages. As a teacher, I realized I loved working specifically with students that have social-emotional, academic, and developmental needs. This led me to pursuing my master’s degree in counseling at Loyola.
As you navigate this portfolio, I hope that you grasp my passion for helping children grow in all areas of development. All children shown in this portfolio have had parent approval to be online.
Thank you for taking the time look at my portfolio. If you would like to contact me, you will see my information at the bottom of each page.
Sincerely,
My Education & Counseling Philosophy
In any space that I work in, whether it be a school or community center, I strive to create a calming and comforting environment; a healthy space of learning and growing for every child. A place where they are able to achieve their fullest potential. So, I work hard to make sure every child’s background is represented in my space. I also create an accessable space with a variety of tools, such as books, flexible seats, fidget tools, etc. My space is for all students to feel welcome.
A child in my school and/or office has the ability to grow academically, physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. Every child’s emotions are respected, explored, and understood as if they were my own, which is why I always use empathy as a focus in my practices. For example, I never tell a child to be quiet when they are having big emotions. I will always make time for that child to explore how they feel and work together to find healthy solutions. I always try to make a child’s emotions feel valid and understood, as I would want to be.
Every student deserves the chance to grow no matter who they are. Children come from a variety of backgrounds, cultures, families, etc. As a teacher and counselor, I recognize that every child, with their unique perspective, has much to offer. This means that a child’s family and culture will be an immense presence in all do. I create curriculum and interventions that represents all children. Some examples of my past efforts include family pictures on classroom walls, culturally specific artifacts that I have researched and applied to learning, and working hard to create a mutually beneficial relationships with each child’s family.
Children that I come across are given opportunities to use and stretch their creative and imaginative brain. I create curriculum and interventions that allow students to explore and make unique choices on their way to reaching the academic, social emotional, and behavior/mindset objectives.
Lastly, every student in my school, classroom, and office has to ability to succeed. Through extensive data analysis and differentiation, I create interventions that guarantee a child’s success. This means that any child, whether they are gifted or need that additional support, will have the tools to grow.
Over my past 5 years as an educator, every student that has crossed my path has effected and influenced me to this current philosophy. I also promise to apply this philosophy to the future children that come my way and to continue to grow as an educator and counselor through future children.
