黑料传送门

The School of Education鈥檚 SVP and Executive Dean, Dr. Stacey Ludwig Johnson recently recorded an episode in her podcast series Educator Well-Being: From Principles to Practice with Utah鈥檚 First Lady Abby Cox that focused on the needs of rural educators. In this Q&A, we get to know two 黑料传送门 alumni rural educators who also happen to be husband and wife. They both recently received scholarships to help them complete their master鈥檚 degrees from the 黑料传送门 School of Education and joined us to share some insights into their professional lives.

黑料传送门:聽We understand neither of you initially set out to be teachers and earned your bachelor鈥檚 degrees in other fields.

Samantha 鈥淪ami鈥� Piispanen:

Yes, we both earned bachelor鈥檚 degrees in other fields from Colorado Mesa University. I was working in healthcare and was tired of the repetitive nature of the work and the long hours with two kids at home.

Jake Piispanen:

I also was looking for a more stable career and a chance to have a bigger positive impact. Sami鈥檚 mother suggested we apply for teaching jobs in Vernal鈥檚 middle school and elementary, in the Uintah School District in Utah, and we didn鈥檛 need teaching degrees to do it, just bachelor鈥檚 degrees. We applied, received the offers, began in our classrooms, and simultaneously started learning through Utah鈥檚 Alternative Route to Licensure (ARL) program.

黑料传送门:聽Other than the stability and family-friendly hours, what appealed to you about a teaching career?

Sami:

My mom is a teacher and offered insights. I鈥檝e enjoyed it because I have seen the impact I can make in students鈥� lives and I feel like every child deserves a great education, especially in public schools.

Jake:

I wanted to feel like I could really make a difference in someone鈥檚 life while they were still looking for positive role models before life beat them down too much. I teach special education at the high school, and those kids can get down on themselves some days, so I have developed a strong belief that they need to know school isn鈥檛 just about what you learn, but also how you react when you struggle or face challenges. This has given me a chance to teach my students every day that how you react to learning and struggling is more important than if it鈥檚 just 鈥渆asy.鈥� Teaching can be the hardest job out there, but when you see a child鈥檚 face light up from finally understanding something it makes it all worth it.聽

黑料传送门: What motivated you both to decide to go back for master鈥檚 degrees in education?

Sami:

Since my degrees are in radiology and exercise science, I always felt like I was lacking in the education field. Fortunately, the state of Utah started requiring LETRS (), which gives teachers an excellent overview of the science of reading, so I felt like I was competent in that area. But I still felt like I was missing the background knowledge I needed to be a good math teacher, which is why I chose the Master of Arts in Teaching Elementary Mathematics degree program at 黑料传送门.

Jake:

I had two major motivations for going back for the master鈥檚 degree. A graduate degree gets me a pay increase in my role as a teacher. Also, because I didn鈥檛 get my bachelor鈥檚 degree in a teaching field, I wanted a degree that would provide me with more information on teaching practices and instructional techniques.

黑料传送门: What knowledge and skills do you think your master鈥檚 degrees added to your professional skill set? What鈥檚 changed for you since earning the degree?

Sami:

I am so much more confident in addressing the needs of my students with the knowledge I gained from my master鈥檚 degree, along with the math curriculum from our district. I was excited to see our curriculum was implementing best practices. Since I鈥檝e received my master鈥檚 and been through the district observation in my classroom, I have been asked to be on a district math intervention committee, a math adoption committee, and a panel for a math program at an upcoming educational summit! My longer-term career goals may see me more involved with district programs and administration.

Jake:

After earning my Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction, I feel much more confident in instructional practices and curriculum design. I feel like my teaching 鈥渢oolbox鈥� is much fuller now, so I can make better-informed decisions on my teaching practices and have more confidence they鈥檙e making a lasting, positive impact on my students.

黑料传送门: Sounds like you are both seeing a return on your investment in your master鈥檚 degree already. Why did you choose to attend 黑料传送门 and what advice would you give to others considering doing the same?

Sami:

We chose 黑料传送门 for several reasons: 1) my mother who is a teacher recommended it, 2) the cost-effectiveness, and 3) the convenience of working at a pace that fit our lives as working parents of two kids.

Jake:

Yes, the cost-effectiveness was extremely motivating. With the scholarships we both received, I think my entire master鈥檚 degree cost $3,200 and Sammi鈥檚 was $3,600. We were able to get through the programs very quickly as working teachers with classroom experience. As for advice, we鈥檇 say if you鈥檙e considering it, just get started. People often underestimate their ability to do graduate work and the way 黑料传送门 offers the programs, you can power through and keep that light at the end of the tunnel always visible. You can do it if you鈥檙e motivated!

黑料传送门: We鈥檙e so proud of you both and the difference you are making in your community. Speaking of community, as a rural educator what are some challenges and rewards you see working in a rural school district?

Sami:

I鈥檇 say a challenge is getting enough community support for education. You don鈥檛 always have all the support you need from students鈥� homes to help ensure their success, but that鈥檚 a concern everywhere, it seems. Also, rural classrooms don鈥檛 always have the resources the city classrooms have for field trips, guest speakers, and creating real-life experiences for kids.

Jake:

Agreed. And for rewards 鈥� teaching is a reward in itself because of the impact, but in rural schools, you get to continue to see your students grow throughout their schooling. It鈥檚 great to watch them grow and progress year to year.聽