Some students who were assigned to Kyle Brasher and Michael Priar this year were in for a surprise not far into the school year. Jacob Van Bibber temporarily joined the Gibson Southern staff as a student teacher in the history department this semester. Van Bibber is currently a student at the University of Southern Indiana, and every day comes here to teach two periods of freshman Geography and two periods of junior United States History. Van Bibber is also employed at Target as a way to make some income during his college and student teaching days.
Van Bibber is from Evansville and attended Evansville Mater Dei High School while also running cross country and playing lacrosse. His favorite color is purple, loves the vibes during Christmas and watches the Colts on Sundays. Mini powdered donuts are his go-to gas station snack.
This is Van Bibbers last semester at USI, which is when prospective teachers start student teaching.
“During the student teaching part of it, you will be at your school everyday teaching,” Van Bibber said. “You will also have a class every Monday night that you go to that’s about two and a half hours long.”
Van Bibber did not always want to teach.
“I came into college as an engineering major because my parents pushed me that way as well, and just everyone I’ve been around because I was a smart kid through high school,” Van Bibber said. “So, I went into that and I didn’t like it. After the first semester I switched over to history because I thought maybe I could become a history teacher.”
Van Bibber majors in history at USI and has a minor in education, with maybe other aspirations then just a high school teacher.
“I kind of figured going in that I would like it, but maybe not what I want to do for the rest of life,” Van Bibber said. “I enjoy teaching, but I think I’d rather do it at the college level, which is really what I’d rather do is teach college kids. To do that, I’d have to go back to grad school and get my masters and Ph. D. before, then start applying to universities if there are jobs available.”
Van Bibber does enjoy teaching at Gibson Southern and likes the students.
“Most of the students seem pretty engaged and at least want to learn a little bit,” Van Bibber said. “I didn’t really know what to expect, never having been a teacher to high school kids, but that is definitely the thing I appreciate the most.”
The veteran history teachers have shared lots of valuable tips about teaching with him.
“Brasher and Priar have helped a lot with just being available, helping out with anything I need, as well as teaching me a lot of things, whether it be certain things to do or not do or guiding me one way or the other,” Van Bibber said.
On top of all of the work he does for the school, he works at Target as well.
“It’s tough, especially on Fridays, because I’ll get out of here at 3:10 then go home and a lot of times I’ll have to go to Target at 4:30 and then work until 10:30,” Van Bibber said. “It’s a long day on Fridays but Saturdays aren’t too bad, especially since I need that money since I don’t get paid for student teaching.”
Van Bibber has not had to deal with parent complaints yet but has been in communication like a normal teacher might.
“There have been a few times where I’ve emailed a parent about their kids’ grades just to let them know, but besides that, I haven’t had any phone calls or anything like that,” Van Bibber said.
Van Bibber’s time at Gibson Southern is rapidly coming to an end. He was a staple in the history department nearly the entire semester but is ending his time on Friday, Dec. 15, right before Titans begin their final exams.
