Transition to Teaching

The program addresses some areas of growth that needed improvement within my current teaching style. My classroom management has improved a lot this school year, and since joining the program, my pacing of when and how I deliver curriculum in my content area has really started to deliver some long-term results in my students' retention.

I continued with my biochemistry degree after deciding to change my path and become a teacher because at that point, I would've had to do an additional year of being a full-time student and I wanted a path where I could work more during that fifth year. I chose the Transition to Teaching program because I knew I would get a good education with good experience while being able to work at the same time. I went to IU for my undergrad so it just made sense to do the T2T program here!

I am currently an early literacy intervention teacher in Massachusetts, with past experience teaching second grade and kindergarten. After completing my master’s program, I plan to return as an early childhood classroom teacher. In the classroom, my focus is on teaching students lifelong skills that extend beyond academics. Indiana-Bloomington’s Special Education program stood out to me for its emphasis on family and community support, which I believe are key to student success. With my passion for special education and teaching, the Transition to Teacher program at the IU School of Education is the perfect fit for me.

What began as a learning opportunity quickly turned into a passion. I realized that teaching was where I could make the greatest difference. From that moment on, I knew education was where I belonged. The time flexibility that the program has to offer is invaluable to a full-time mother and employee like me.

I preferred this path, because I valued the ability to gain deep content knowledge in the subjects I would eventually teach and the flexibility it provided me. I chose IU's Transition to Teaching program ultimately because I had spoken to other teachers who spoke highly of the program and IU's School of Education in general. Furthermore, having completed my undergraduate studies at IU, I was already familiar with the community. Joining a program through IU made it really easy for me to stay in Bloomington, which I love.

My mentor teacher was amazing and taught me a litany about what it means to be a teacher and skills that will help me accomplish this. I taught geography and world history honors, and it was a great time, and the relationships I built with the students and teachers were awesome.

The Indiana University Transition to Teaching program provided me with a pathway to success when I needed it the most. With a degree in English Literature and a desire to help others succeed, the T2T program provided me with the perfect opportunity to find my passion of teaching. I now proudly serve as the Superintendent of Mooresville Schools, and I am forever grateful to the IU School of Education.

The IU Bloomington Transition to Teaching Program has been a great growing experience reflected in my coursework, clinicals, and now student teaching. I feel really lucky to student teach at Avon High School and hope to make everyone who has helped me throughout this journey, not to mention myself, proud.