Someone You Should Know

Doris Gott, coordinator of clinical placements for the Department of Teaching and Learning, has been in her position for seven years. She is a former member of the Presidential Commission on the Status of Women and received the Supportive Professional Staff Presidential Award for Excellence in 1998.

What are the responsibilities of your position?
I schedule field experiences and arrange university transportation to each clinical site. Each semester, I contact school districts throughout northeastern Illinois to recruit cooperating teachers to mentor the NIU students in their first and second field experience or those completing their 16 weeks of student teaching. I also assist with student teacher sign-up and orientation meetings and help organize and prepare portfolio showcases.

How did you choose your profession?
As young children, my sister and I enjoyed playing school. Following our role models — our mother, grandfather and great-grandmother — we both became teachers. After receiving a master's in adult education and taking an early retirement as an elementary teacher, I began my present position at NIU.

What's the best part about your job?
I enjoy working with my co-workers and with the students throughout their three professional semesters.

What's something unique about your position?
I have been an adviser for the Student Education Association at NIU for the past four years. This gives me an opportunity to become better acquainted with the members at the monthly meetings and at the Illinois Education Association/Student Education Association State Conferences, held in the spring and fall.

If you weren't in your current job field, what would you be doing?
Botanical art, calligraphy, photography and geography (traveling) are some of the many hobbies that I pursue. I also love my role as grandmother to Jeremiah, Hannah, Brianna and Alicia.

What are you reading?
I have enjoyed reading the Harry Potter series. Weekly, I have an opportunity to read the favorite books my granddaughters select.

What music are you listening to lately?
I love listening to the collection of Mozart that I purchased on a trip to Austria.

What good movies have you seen lately?
I enjoyed "Harry Potter," "Lord of the Rings" and "A Beautiful Mind."

Do you have a favorite TV show?
I enjoy "Dateline," "20/20," "60 Minutes" and "CNN."

Any words to live by?
Be a life-long learner.