For a week in May, Amanda Stoermer, an English Learner teacher at Stone Bridge High School, traded her classroom for one of the toughest training grounds in the country: the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island in South Carolina. As part of an immersive Educators Workshop, held at Parris Island, Stoermer learned what her students with military aspirations might one day experience.
As part of the Educators Workshop, Stoermer participated in many of the activities new recruits also experience, including early morning Marine-style physical training and classroom lessons on leadership and history.
Stoermer also witnessed the arrival of new Marine Corps recruits and the confidence of those preparing to graduate from their 13-week basic training. Through conversations with officers, families, and the young Marines themselves, she learned more about their transformation from civilian to Marine.
Stoermer was invited to join the program because of her work as Stone Bridge’s Purple Star Club adviser, where she supports students from military families. Drawing from both personal experience and her role at the school, Stoermer expressed her appreciation for the opportunities that military service provides, especially in opening doors to skilled trades and continuing education.
Stoermer said that her week at Parris Island gave her new tools and a fresh perspective that will help her guide her students as they consider their next steps after high school graduation.