Mark Wells ED 508 Portfolio


I am Mark Wells. I am originally from the small town of Phil Campbell, Alabama and now live in Leighton, Alabama. I am married and have one four year old little girl named Avery. I am currently not in a teaching position, sadly. I am currently working at the Helen Keller Wellcare Center as a Fitness Specialist II and the Aquatics Coordinator. I also teach group exercise classes and help with the strength and conditioning program for girl’s athletics at Deshler High School. I received my Bachelor of Science in Education with an endorsement in Physical Education P-12 from the University of North Alabama in the spring of 2011. I am currently working on my Master’s degree in Special Education K-6 from the University of West Alabama. I originally only wanted to be a Physical Education teacher, but that changed when I was given the opportunity to be the At-Risk teacher at Tharptown High School. I did not work with students with special needs but I did work with students in danger of failing both Math and English. The students I worked with did not have a disability but did have trouble learning in the general classroom. After having success as the At-Risk teacher I realized that I had a good overall ability to teach. I realized that I had a passion for teaching in general not just PE. After being the At-Risk teacher I then substitute taught for a special education teacher at Phil Campbell Elementary school for two months while the teacher was out sick. I found a real passion for trying to teach and improve the life of students with a disability. That is why I started working towards my Master’s degree in Special Education here at the University of West Alabama. I have enrolled in this course because it is one of the course requirements to receive the degree I am seeking. I also believe that this course will help me learn a great deal more about how to be a successful special education teacher. I believe this class will help be to understand what today’s classrooms are like and how to use the universal design for learning approach. I believe through this course and the rest of the courses I will take here at the University of West Alabama I will have the knowledge to become a very successful special education teacher.