Testing, deadlines, logistics and protocols can distract a new teacher, but a graduate school professor taught Michelle Ryan (MA '15) to focus on the prize: the positive learning experiences of her students.
Science teacher Dr. Melody Tucker (AL '15) knows her time in the classroom has a lasting impact: "The students you touch will remember you forever, and you can help change their lives."
A first-year encounter with an unsupportive parent reminded Deborah Siebern-Dennis (MO '15) that teachers rarely know what goes on at home. Her response: a conscious and consistent flow of encouragement and positivity.
Lindsey Bibler (SC '15) learned important lessons from her first job at her hometown YMCA: Every child is different, and every child wants to feel special.
Studying opera taught Angela Malone (MD '15) important lessons she uses in her classroom every day: Practice makes perfect, preparation is key, and a touch of dramatic flair never hurts with middle schoolers.
A month in the mail room at a large medical office convinced Misty Ayres-Miranda (TN '15) of one thing: There was no way she'd spend her career in a cubicle.
For Ricardo Larios (OR '15), morning is the best part of the school day: "Every day is a new opportunity to change a person's life, help someone learn a life story, or be the only person in their life who cares."
History teacher John Lary (LA '15) isn't shy about telling students how much he loves being an educator, but his encouragement goes beyond talk: He lets them "guest lecture" in his class to get a feel for teaching.
Why does Allison Cuttler (NJ '15) love teaching? Because every day brings a new opportunity to make a real difference in someone's life.
Lauren Jensen (NY '15) learned one of her most valuable lessons about teaching from the babysitting job she had in junior high: "There is beauty in chaos."
