Kit's Professional Page

I was born and raised in North Carolina. My parents still live there and once a year I make the trek home for a visit. I am the youngest of three children born to my parents, Carl and Lillian Ellison. At an early age I was taught that books are best friends and teachers were adults to be trusted and looked up to. In fact, a few really exceptional teachers in my life gave me the incentive to become a teacher.

I attended Indiana University from 1975 to 1979 and obtained a B.S. degree in Elementary Education. Reminiscing back to my student teaching experience, I have fond memories of leading an energetic fifth grade class through making a class quilt to commemorate their lesson on the American Revolution.

Upon graduation from Indiana University, I was married and relocated to Hinsdale, Illinois. I found employment at Hinsdale Hospital and was a Data Entry technician in the Laboratory. After a year, I moved to the Health Education department and helped organize and orchestrate classes for the public such as cooking and personal health maintenance.

In 1981 I moved to the Kansas City area, and worked for Shawnee Mission Medical Center until 1989 as the Data Entry Coordinator for the Nutrition Services Department. I was responsible for maintaining the entire data system for inpatient and cafeteria meals, generating recipes sized to the inpatient census and training of all personnel on the program we used, Computrition. At the same time I began giving public seminars over a variety of topics to diverse groups: Time Management, Women and Friendships, and Household Organization to name a few. I raised two children at the same time and in 1989, decided to return to my original profession of teaching.

In 1990 I began teaching at Midland Adventist Academy in the capacity of sixth grade teacher. I had been out of the profession for over 10 years but I knew the field of education was where I wanted to be. In 1991 I changed to fifth grade, followed by Junior High English teacher from 1991 through 1995. Some of the highlights of teaching at Midland include teaching the Iditarod to the entire school, flying to Anchorage to be a part of the first national group of educators teaching the Iditarod to their students, and returning the following year with a group of students to volunteer during the race, enhancing their knowledge and excitement of the Iditarod started the year before.

I began my Master's Degree during my time at Midland and since I loved English so much, decided to obtain my degree in Secondary English Education at KU.   I completed this project in December of 1998.  My graduation pictures are on my personal photo album page.

In September of 1998 I began teaching at JCCC as an Adjunct Instructor in the English Department.  I have enjoyed instructing both Introduction to Writing and Composition I students.  In August of 1999, I began a full-time position in the Career Services Department at JCCC as the Employment Systems Technician, working with both the Career Services website and the department databases.  I am currently working on completing the Webmaster Certificate program, the Adjunct Certification program, and additional coursework in Computer Applications.  

What does the future hold for me? My hopes and dreams include furthering my education by completing the WebMaster Certification Program and the Adjunct Certification Program at JCCC, as well as my Ph.D. in English from the University of Kansas, and publishing my first book.  The future looks bright from my perspective!