How did your undergraduate and work experiences before this program inspire you to go into teaching and pursue an MAT degree?
Before coming to Brown, I completed my bachelor's at Skidmore College in New York State, studying English Literature and Education Studies. While I was there, I student-taught in 1st grade and 5th grade, and at first I was sure I would stay in elementary school forever; I loved it! Then, in the summer of 2025, I served as a teaching fellow for Breakthrough Greater Boston. There I co-taught 9th grade English for my first experience in secondary education. I loved working with high school students and being able to draw more from my English degree. I see teaching as a forever career for me, and I really want the flexibility to move around and teach a variety of grade levels. After such a formative summer at Breakthrough, it solidified for me that I wanted to pursue a master's in secondary, and Brown's model was exactly what I was looking for.
What has been a highlight of your experience in the MAT program so far?
The people! Coming into the MAT program straight from undergrad, I was really nervous about moving to a new city and university without anyone I knew. By the first day of orientation, all of those nerves were gone. The cohort is a perfect mix of students who went to Brown, are coming from other schools, and who have had other unique work experiences. Though everyone is bringing in their own perspective, everyone seems to share the same love for teaching that I do. Same goes for the faculty and staff! Everyone is so understanding and supportive; I find it hard to believe I only met everyone this past June.
Where are you doing your student teaching, and what do you like most about the experience there so far?
I am student teaching at Hope High School, only 5 blocks away from Brown's main campus. Under my incredible mentor Victoria Nash, I am supporting English III which is mostly juniors, and Composition 101 which is a section of sophomores. In the spring, I will take over two or three of her classes completely, but for now I am supporting them all, and doing a few lessons on my own here and there. The best part so far has been creating relationships with our students and working alongside the Hope English department. Hope is such a special place and in only a month I feel like I've grown a ton as an educator.
What or who inspired you to become a teacher?
I am lucky to have so many great teacher role models in my life! My dad has been a high school teacher for over 30 years, as were both sets of my grandparents. They always spoke about this profession so highly, and from a young age I saw just how rewarding it can be. During my undergraduate degree at Skidmore College, I student-taught in elementary school. My mentor at Skidmore, Jen Church, who is a 5th grade classroom teacher, has also been a huge inspiration for me through her classroom management and consistent high expectations for all students!
What would you tell someone considering a master's at Brown?
Along with the highly supportive program and rigorous academics, you cannot beat the location. Providence is such an awesome city to live in! In my short time here, I have loved getting to explore the state of Rhode Island. On the weekends, I love exploring the beaches, going to farmers' markets, and trying different coffee shops and restaurants. It's very walkable and there's so much to do within only a mile of College Hill! Some of my favorite places include Scarborough Beach, Kow Kow Ice Cream, Heng Thai, Hope Street Farmers Market, Pizza Marvin, and India Point Park!