"The reason I come back to teaching is that thing, that moment when you as the teacher see that spark in your student's eye that shows that they get it! That moment when they get excited about learning, about a subject, about overcoming an obstacle, about finding their confidence. That moment only comes from being in the classroom. Period. And, it kept me coming back after I left for a year for grad school full time and it keeps me coming back after having 3 pandemic years of teaching (where "that moment" hardly ever happened due to the nature of Distance Learning). Now, we are back in the classroom full time and it feels "normal" again. Those moments are happening and I feel like I'm a teacher again. It's a place I've always felt at home and it feels good to be home again."
– Tracy Miller, UTEP 2002, Social Studies, Barrington High School, Barrington, RI
"Many often say it is the students that keep them coming back, which is undoubtedly true. However, it is also the relationships I have with my colleagues at my school. This year I was able to offer a professional development opportunity to our staff and they received it with open arms. I know that I can reach out to my colleagues for support and they will listen to me, even on my worst days. I am extremely grateful for them and wish I could say that more often."
– Keben Perez, BA - 2015, MA - 2016, middle school science (8th grade), Los Angeles
"It's the kids for me. The kids at Shattuck-St. Mary's are something special, and ninth graders are easily the funniest people on earth. They make my life so bright, and I feel a sense of loyalty to them that really keeps me grounded and motivated."
– Jordan Ecker, MAT Class of 2021, World History Teacher, Shattuck-St. Mary's School, Faribault, MN
"My students keep me coming back to teach. I left teaching for five years and realized I deeply missed the students - their questions, their reactions, and their understanding of the world. Specifically, right now, an annual oral history project done in partnership with the local public radio station keeps me coming back to teach. My students love trying to understand complex societal issues through the lens of our local community. My students' enthusiasm for these community stories keeps me coming back year after year - all of our eyes, minds, and hearts opened through appreciating diverse perspectives."
– Melissa Schoeplein, M.A.T. 2002, Social Studies Teacher, University Laboratory High School, Urbana, IL
"My students keep me coming back to teach each year. Their positive energy, curiosity, and open-mindedness inspire me to be a better teacher each day."
– Molly Condron, MAT Class of 2018, Grade 7 Science, Groton Middle School, Groton, CT
"I keep coming back to teach because students deserve to have someone in their lives to support, guide, and encourage them. Each day I strive to do just that. There is honestly no better feeling in the world than knowing that your class is the best part of at least one student’s day. The students keep me motivated, honest, and humble; if I can give them even a moment of joy or peace in their day, I have done my job."
– Abriana Mayer, MAT 2019, 8th and 9th grade English, The Fay School, Southborough, MA
"I love my students' intellectual curiosity and enthusiasm for seeing where "the rubber meets the road" with respect to theory and application. I keep coming back every year because I enjoy the sense of purpose, the opportunity for continuous improvement as an educator, and being surrounded by the energy of young people and ideas."
– Brad Gibbs '93 AB, '18 MAT, Brown University - Economics Department, Providence, RI
"What keeps me teaching (almost 20 years in): Optimism in building a peaceful world."
– Emily Elizabeth Christian, MAT 2003 (Social Studies), Upper Elementary Lead Guide, Mountaineer Montessori School, Charleston, WV
"This work just seems to get more interesting by the year. The more I think I know about children: how they think, how they grow, what strategies work, etc, the more open, puzzled, engaged, and entertained by them I am. It’s so iterative and dynamic. I feel a little addicted to it— I can’t seem to stop."
– Sarah Perkins, MAT 2012, grades 5/6 humanities, Fayerweather Street School, Cambridge, MA