JEEM SCHOLAR: October 8 - November 11, 2023

Introduction

During a five-week program, the MSU College of Education, Health and Human Development will host Renate Kerane from Riga, Latvia. She is this year’s recipient of the JEEM Memorial Scholarship, which was established by the family of Dr. James G. Hauwiller for support for international educational exchanges.

Brief Biography of Renate Kerane

I’m Renate Kerane, the lucky JEEM Scholar of 2023 from Riga, Latvia. I have a beautiful family and I am the mother of three daughters, Patricia, Emilia, and Olivia.

Although I studied Pedagogy in my bachelor program and received an MA degree with distinction in English in 2012, I did not work as a teacher until January 2021. In my previous job experience I was a translator and interpreter, an administrator, and worked as conference and event manager before the pandemics. This time brought immense changes in my career. I accepted the challenge to become an English teacher. Soon after the first term at school I decided to apply for a work-based study program at the University of Latvia for the pedagogical qualification (July 2022) and proceeded with another year of studies in Management of Change in Education (June 2023).

As the JEEM Scholar I intend to expand the topic of my diploma paper on Strategies to Develop Life Skills in English Lessons by observing classes, getting inspired to incorporate new teaching methods and go beyond a course book. The project could help me see how life skills are already incorporated in lessons and implemented in the educational system of America.

Apart from a full-time job at the Marupe Elementary School, I am also involved in running a charity foundation together with my husband Janis. We run charity shops in Latvia to raise funds to support children in need. This year, the scope of our charity and social work expanded and we donated 400 backpacks filled with school supplies to children in Ukraine.

To provide a glimpse of my personal interests outside of school, I enjoy jazz, photography and time spent in nature. However, my biggest passion for years has been travelling. I have visited 27 countries (Indonesia, Vietnam, Marocco, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Albania, Israel, Egypt and most of the European countries); yet I’ve never had a chance to visit America.

Through my project in Bozeman, I intend to examine teaching methods and strategies that allow middle school students to acquire various life skills, e.g., self-awareness, resilience, adaptability, interpersonal skills and collaboration, critical thinking, empathy and positive body image.

Upon my return to Latvia, I will attempt to link the topics of the course book with subsequent life skills and adjust my teaching methods. I strongly believe in the power of education, and I'm committed to implementing life skill education one lesson at a time. I see it as an opportunity to have an influence on students’ developing personalities, which in return makes my work meaningful and fulfilling.

Welcome Renate to MSU, Bozeman, and Montana