Alumni

Josheline 

Currently, I am working in a public school as a paraprofessional. The program has helped me acquire the knowledge in how I can help my 1 to 1 student through rich mathematics, reading, writing, social studies, science, art, and music experiences that match his developmental stage but that challenge him enough. 

Some specific competencies that I have gained from the program are the creation of

meaningful learning experiences, how to assess children and their work, as well as learning to reflect about my teaching practices and whether or not they are valuing the diversity of children, families, community members, and colleagues. 

One piece of advice I have for current students in the program is to bring into the classroom their classroom experience. I have found that by sharing your experiences, as a class, you get to learn a variation of strategies for how you can approach a variety of scenarios ie: student conflict, parent conversations, co-teacher dilemma etc. 

Samuel Gedeon

One piece of advice I would give to a current student in the program is stick with it. It may seem long and tiring especially now during a pandemic but you obtain a lot from this experience and it is worth it in the end.

Currently, I work as a TA in a special needs classroom and as I have been in the program, I have been using different strategies and approaches I have learned in the program to better myself as an educator while also catering to the needs of the children I serve. I also share some of these strategies with the team I work with so they can have an idea of different ways to approach a problematic situation in the classroom. A lot of the children we have been getting have more needs than children we had in the past, due to Covid, lack of socialization, etc. and it has been hard to address those needs sometimes. 

Some competencies I obtained from the program are the importance of creating a safe and conducive learning environment, how to craft a lesson plan and the importance of the ability to use varied learning strategies with different students. I have also learned about different ways to assess children and how to better identify their needs and address those said needs. 

Mejeena Estremera

Teaching, especially in early childhood, is a ministry through which we may not see the fruit right away, but the work we put in is worth it in the end. One of my favorites quotes that I carry with me and that I have allowed to influence my career and practice as an educator is that of William Arthur Ward, which states, “The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” 

From this program, I received the skills that I believe are necessary in order to be an effective teacher and educator. One of the many things I’ve learned is to see the children in my care for who they are. Not as blank slates, but as human beings with particular interests and experiences. I’ve learned also to be sensitive to them, to identify their needs and to guide them as they seek to master their own learning.  In order to develop the skills needed to achieve the goal of being an effective educator, I had to be determined in putting into practice the strategies that I’ve learned in the program.