Name: Charlie Fisher
Hometown: Kensington, Maryland
Program and Graduation Year: MAT in Secondary Biology, 2021
What drew you to the MAT Program?
The major factor that drew me to the MAT program was the opportunity to participate in the Urban Education Fellowship (UEF) program. The UEF program provides loan forgiveness to STEM teachers who commit to working in RI public schools for three years after graduation. This program was crucial in my decision-making. On top of the financial benefits, this program has made me feel incredibly connected to Rhode Island, and allowed me to deepen my connections to the community. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity, and I have thoroughly enjoyed all that the program has brought me.
How did your undergraduate and work experiences prior to this program inspire you to go into teaching and pursue an MAT degree?
In my undergrad, I studied Biology. I actually intended to go into a health career up until I graduated. It wasn't until I started going down that path that I realized that it was not what I was passionate about. I had always wanted to be a teacher, but I figured it would not happen until later in life. After having long talks with friends and family, I made the decision to do a complete 180 and pursue a teaching degree. Luckily, my background in STEM made it a seamless transition, and even though I had no formal experience in education going into the MAT program, I was still able to find success.
What was the highlight of your experience in the MAT program?
Easily the highlight for me was getting to collaborate with the other MAT students in the program. I attended the MAT program when COVID was running full steam ahead, and all classes were online. Without a strong community to support me, it would have been a miserable time. Luckily for me, I was surrounded by inspiring classmates and professors, who provided a sense of community. I am so grateful for all of the support I received that year and the support I still receive from my classmates to this day.
What have you done since graduating from the MAT program?
After graduating from the MAT program, I started working full-time as a science teacher at Central Falls High School. I have had an amazing time teaching there, and I look forward to deepening my ties to this great community. I have also had a chance to get involved in starting a biomedical career and technical education pathway at the high school, which has been rewarding. Outside of school, I have had the opportunity to travel more than I ever have before, and I look forward to continuing to explore our world more!
What is one piece of advice you would give someone interested in applying to the program?
My one piece of advice would be to get to know everyone you come in contact with during the program. It is true that Rhode Island is the smallest state, it seems like everyone knows everyone sometimes. Getting to know the wealth of knowledge in the program, as well as in the schools and greater community, is crucial to learning as much as you can in the short program, and creating lasting connections for the future.
What skills or knowledge did you learn throughout the program that you found most useful in your career?
The most useful part of the MAT program for me was being placed in a school from the start of the program. This allowed me to learn the ins and outs of teaching before being thrown into it myself. The time at the beginning of the year was incredibly valuable for me to hone my practice, and get to know the students and classroom. This is certainly one of the aspects of the MAT program that makes it feel so relevant and responsive.