Graduate Profile: Michele
Graduate of the Alternative Teacher Certification Program, UT El Paso
Current job: From Industrial Engineer to Math Teacher
UTTC: I understand you graduated from the ATCP program and moved into a master’s program?
Michele: Correct. I graduated from the ATCP with the certification to teach Math grades 4 – 8 and began work on my master’s in Math Education. I’m about 75 percent through that program.
Why did you choose to pursue teacher certification? Was this a job change for you?
Very much. My undergraduate degree is in Industrial Engineering and I’ve spent 10 of the last 15 years working in management for manufacturing facilities. Five of the 15, I also owned and operated a pre-school child care center. Although I felt comfortable with the administrative tasks for the Center, I felt clueless about the actual management of classrooms and curriculum. The first of the five years doing this was very hard. I’d work 8 hours in my engineering job, then another four hours a day at the Center and all day Saturday and Sunday on the Center. To make matters a little busier, I also managed in those five years to get married, built a house and have two kids. I had money to go do the things I love, like travel, but had zero time or energy.
So I decided to quit the full time engineering job. About a year later I got an offer to sell the preschool center that I couldn’t refuse, so I sold it. I found myself unemployed with lots of time and thought I’d explore something in non-profit. I really began missing the parent and child interactions the Center afforded me, so I decided to go into teaching. It’s a family-friendly career and the service side of the profession is so rewarding. The hardest step was just living within a teacher’s salary as opposed to an engineer’s.
So the ATCP program gave you the certification you needed to be the classroom teacher? What plans do you have for your career now?
The program got me in the classroom. I love teaching. I have to continue to grow and study in my new career so the master’s is the next step. I think I may ultimately start my own tutoring company or teach college classes. I also would like consulting and speaking at seminars.
Did you find the content from ATCP applicable to your work world in your new career?
Immediately! I was familiar with some of the content because of my work with the pre-school but most of it was very new. I found the material interesting, especially the child development and psychology of learning aspects. That was fascinating in both my classroom and my home where I could better understand how my nine and seven year old children learn. I also spent time observing teachers in the classroom which is great research. I was able to take ideas from that immediately into my own classroom.
What made you decide to pursue your certification online? You were close to a campus.
Online learning has many advantages. In addition to the cost analysis part (factor in baby sitting, gas, parking permits, time to commute) it offers a flexibility I needed. In addition to my family, I was also taking care of a sick uncle. When he was hospitalized in Washington D.C., I went there, rented a laptop, and did my studies in his hospital room while he was sleeping. Later I moved him back home but finding a caregiver to watch him and my two kids would have been really tough. I could not have had a more flexible and comfortable schedule. I can do my class work at midnight in my pajamas!
Were there any aspects to the online experience that you hadn’t anticipated?
I didn’t expect to use the middle of the night or early morning to do the work but that ended up being what worked best for me. . When everyone in my house was asleep and the phone wasn’t ringing I could concentrate and do my best work.
I didn’t expect that I could be tested at home but you know, the way the questions are worded you really have to have read and understood the material to answer the questions, so instructors are able to adequately test students online.
I didn’t really anticipate team projects – and I found myself doing a disproportionate share of the work on the team project, precisely to avoid the inconvenience of meeting with peers. I guess that’s just a fact of life.
I was able to complete the program in one year – that was great! Attaining this certification lets me get home before 5 pm., I have plenty of time off for my family and friends, and I know my work is helping students get over any fears of math they have so they can be better students.
Do you have any advice for students thinking about learning online?
Take an inventory of your strengths and weaknesses. Online classes are not for everyone. Most people I have talked to just love them, and I do too. Students need to find out up front what is expected of them and what services will be available to them online. Don’t be afraid to ask questions to your peers and instructors via email.
What do professors teaching online need to bear in mind?
Expectations need to be clear from the beginning to avoid surprises. Provide feedback and grades in a timely fashion. Please remember to be flexible to allow student success without compromising their education.
Good advice. Any parting thoughts?
As a teacher I’m helping the future of my community. That feels good.
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