Allison Keskimaki
Passionate. Educated. Driven. Independent. Goofy.
Middle school teacher. Bibliophile. History Buff.
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These are some of the words you could use to describe me. I'm somewhat of a late bloomer, not realizing I wanted to come to the profession of teaching until later than most people. After earning my B.A. in History from Michigan State University, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my life. In fact, I was open to anything EXCEPT teaching...
All About Allison...
But Then...
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I was offered an exceptional opportunity to housesit for my cousin, CSM Tom Clementson, while he went to Afghanistan to fight in the War on Terror. Housesit in Hawaii, of course.
After a couple moments of contemplation, I jumped at the chance. I moved to Hawaii in the spring of 2006 and shortly thereafter began my stint as a docent on the historic and famous Battleship Missouri. Learning about the history of this beloved ship, her role in American history, and her final resting place, in the hallowed waters of Pearl Harbor sparked something inside of me that I never knew was there. In giving my tours each day, I was uniquely situated to share my passion about history with hundreds of people. Even better than that, I was able to witness a change in people as they learned something new, were engaged in what I was doing and teaching them, and, at the end, asked questions to learn more about the Missouri.
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I realized not only did I love this, but I wanted to do something with even more meaning and value connected to this job. Therefore, I decided to move back to Michigan (once my cousin returned from Afghanistan, of course), and pursue my teaching certificate.
And So...
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Back I came. Here, the second time around, I was focused and inspired. I couldn't wait to begin teaching!

After my coursework, I interned at Williamston Middle School, where I truly found my niche. I realized that middle school students are just so stinkin' cool! They are at such a fun age where they can be really sweet and goofy, but they are also inquisitive and incredibly thoughtful as they begin to try to make sense of the world around them.
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Upon completion of my year-long internship - and a long summer of driving around the state to job interviews - I was offered a position at Pathfinder School in Pinckney, Michigan. For the past three years, I have worked with both 7th and 8th grade students, teaching Ancient Civilizations, United States History, and 8th grade English.
What's Next...
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As a former classroom teacher, I had the opportunity to inspire, motivate, energize, and challenge hundreds of students. Kids are amazing and surprising - it is truly limitless what they can do. I passionately believe in encouraging growth and opportunites for all students. Giving kids the tools they need to find meaningful learning in their schooling will enable them to improve our world, solve immense problems, and grow as future leaders.
In my current role as an Instructional Technology Specialist, I get to collaborate with almost a hundred brilliant educators who care deeply about what they do. Every day, I am able to visit classrooms and see a variety of teaching and learning. Utilizing the power of technology to create real-world, relevant, and problem-based learning experiences for students is one of the greatest parts of my job.
