The Class of 2000 talks about their Teacher Education Program at WVU

"I achieved a BA & an MA in just five wonderful years."

-Rachel Fletcher, Fairmont, WV

Support

"We might as well be a 'family."

-Loretta Rose

"The faculty and staff are knowledgeable, caring, accommodating, and professional."

-Janine Bianchi, West Los Angeles, CA

"One of the best things has been working closely and cooperatively with professors. (They are like friends to me!)"

-Erika Staebler, Leonardtown, MD

"I have especially benefited from three years of working in actual classrooms where the teachers served as mentors."

-Jamie White, Aurora, CO

"We have pulled together as a class but also as friends. I have felt constant support from all those - faculty, staff, and classmates - especially during stressful and demanding times."

-Maria Robards, Lewisburg, WV

"I know all the teachers as well as I know the students. I hope for this same camaraderie when I find a teaching job."

-Michelle Sauro, Williamstown, WV

Experience

". . . over 1000 hours in the public schools."

-Pamela Kee 

"The three years also allowed for vast experience with a variety of age groups. I feel students from this program are far more confident and ready to take over a classroom than students from a typical four year program."

-Erin Rhoades, Ijamsville, MD

"No other program I've heard of offers so much experience in the field. You don't just get thrown out into a classroom not knowing what to expect. You have three years of experience in a school system and gain the practice and expertise you need to make it as a teacher."

-Debbie Costello, Budd Lake, NJ

"Just the other day the Xerox machine was broken and I couldn't run my test off. I decided to rewrite the test on an overhead projector. This is life as a 'real' teacher."

-Christen Walters Smith, Morgantown, WV

"My special education placements allowed me to experience both elementary and secondary placements. It also gave me the chance to work with diverse learners in the classroom."

-Pamela Kee, Plainview, NY

Growth

". . . a real sense of accomplishment."

-Carrie Besterman

"Leaving home to attend college can be not only exciting but also a little scary. The faculty here arranged opportunities to meet with other students in the program. This allowed friendships to form and provided a forum for support and advice."

-Tamara Mackey O'Connor, Uniontown, PA

"You cannot beat the five year program and getting your master's degree. It is a very difficult and time consuming program, but very rewarding."

-Amy Malinowsky Nocida, Wheeling, WV

"We start out in the schools our junior year and gradually work our way up to full time teaching during the internship. It makes the student teaching experience run much more smoothly."

-Jennie Terreberry, Jamestown, NY

"Discussing with my host teacher all of these things made me realize that I am growing each day. She informed me the other day that she noticed that my classroom management skills have really grown, which made me have a smile on my face."

-Shawn Cioffi, New Castle, PA