Celebrating UC Alumni Teachers
Greetings!
As valued members of our alumni community, we want to take a moment during this Teacher Appreciation Week to thank you for your dedication to education. Teachers are the backbone of our education system, and we are excited to celebrate the incredible impact they have on shaping our futures. Teachers dedicate countless hours to helping us learn, grow, and achieve our goals, and we are so very grateful for their commitment.
We know that many of you have gone on to become teachers and leaders in education, and we applaud your dedication to give back in these ways. You are forming the future for our communities, our country, and the world through this work, and we are proud to call you members of the School of Education family.
Thank you for your continued support of the School of Education and the teachers who have impacted our lives. We look forward to celebrating YOU this week and throughout the year.
On a personal note, I want to share that, after nine years as Director of the School of Education, I will be passing the leadership baton to Dr. Anna DeJarnette. She is a valued member of the our School of Education faculty who is dedicated to teacher success through effective and inclusive education. Her term begins July 1. It has been a pleasure to bear witness to the extraordinary contributions of our alums.
Thank you for making this work so rewarding!
Mary Boat
Associate Professor and Director, CECH School of Education
‘Lunch and Learn’ to Explore BIPOC Teacher Pathways
Wednesday, May 10
Noon - 1 p.m.
Virtual
Join us on for this exciting opportunity to hear directly from Keonte Alexander '22, Middle Childhood Education graduate, as he discusses mentoring, eliminating barriers for underserved students, exposing students to STEM fields, and his own career accomplishments. Keonte will be joined by Associate Professor Dr. Jon Breiner, who also serves as director of the BIPOC Teacher Pathway that supports Black, Indigenous, and People of Color to become middle school teachers.
While this experience is hosted by the UC College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services, all UC alumni, students, faculty and staff are welcome to attend. Please register by Monday, May 8. The event login credentials will be emailed the day prior to the event.
Stay Connected
We want to connect with you! If you update your contact information, complete the CECH volunteer form, or share your story with us during Teacher Appreciation Week, you will be entered into a drawing to win some great prizes!
We will select four lucky winners at the end of the week to receive an UC alumni swag basket and $25 Starbucks or Amazon gift cards. You must submit from May 3-9 to be eligible.
Proud UC Teacher Downloadables
Do you want to show your UC pride on your Zoom calls? Enjoy these fun digital downloads including special Teacher Appreciation Week Zoom backgrounds, mindfulness coloring pages, and more!
Also, don't forget to share your final creations with us on social media using #thyloyalchildren.
Inspiration From Our Alumni Educators
We checked in with a few CECH alumni and asked them to share some inspiring words with us. We wanted to know what they love most about teaching and what have they learned teaching during a pandemic. Click below to read more.
Do you have advice you would like to share? Reach out to Gage Woolley to learn how you might be featured in a future article.
Celine Thomas ’17 - 11th Grade Secondary English Language Arts Teacher. She also teaches a course called African American Literature and Pop Culture at Middletown High School – Click below to read more
Maddie McCartney ’19 - 1st Grade Teacher at Shwab Elementary in Nashville, Tennessee – Click below to read more
Jasmine Butcher ’19, ’22 - 3rd Grade Teacher for Cincinnati Public Schools District at College Hill Fundamental Academy – Click below to read more
What do you love most about teaching? In other words, why did you chose this profession?
I love building relationships with students and continuing to stay in touch with them even after they are no longer in my class.
What lessons did you learn at UC that have stuck with you over the years? In other words, how has your UC education helped you be the best teacher you can be?
The teaching program at UC is phenomenal. I had the opportunity to spend so much time in the classroom between my junior and senior year and that made such a difference. I remember at my full year student teaching placement my senior year, I watched two different student teachers come and go from another university. Each complaining about missing either the beginning or end of the school year. UC allowed me to be a part of the full year rather than half of it.
What do you love most about teaching? In other words, why did you choose this profession?
My passion for teaching stems from a desire to help others improve their lives through education. I believe knowledge is the gateway to success and it can change many people’s circumstances when they have the right guidance to push themselves forward in school.
What lessons did you learn at UC that have stuck with you over the years? In other words, how has your UC education helped you be the best teacher you can be?
UC allowed me to explore different classroom settings before starting my career. For my first internship, I was placed in a diverse Pre-K classroom. It was a fun and exciting placement to experience. It changed my outlook on how much work and effort goes into planning lessons for preschool students. My next placement was at a bilingual school where most of the students’ first language was Spanish. It was a unique placement to work with students who didn’t speak English fluently. It helped me build upon what I’ve learned in my courses about English Language Learners and how to apply it in a classroom setting. My last placement was at a school for Cincinnati Public Schools. It allowed me to build connections and to network in the district, which then led me to my current job that I have at College Hill. All of my placements allowed me to explore the responsibilities of being a full-time teacher, while still being supported by my professors and mentors. Today, I serve as a mentor to give back to the UC family that poured so much into me for my teaching career.
What is one unexpected experience during your time at UC that you would like to share?
I was a 2-year transfer student coming into UC. When I made the transition to attend UC, I basically had to start completely over because the majority of my credits didn’t transfer over. At that moment, I could have picked a different career to pursue because I pretty much had to start from the beginning. I was taken back by the initial transition, but in the end, I was happy I decided to pursue a teaching career. When I graduated from UC, I was able to get my bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education and I minored in Psychology. My minor in Psychology inspired me to move forward with my master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis.
What do you love most about teaching? In other words, why did you choose this profession?
My favorite thing about teaching is the confidence that my students build across our school year together. I was not always a confident child myself, so seeing a child break out of their shell and show their personality is a gratifying experience for me. In academics, I truly get chills when we hit that point in the year where students are no longer afraid to participate and sharing their thinking in math or reading is just a natural part of their day. My class will tell you that "You can do hard things" is a phrase often used in our class and by the end of the year, they all know it is absolutely true!
What lessons did you learn at UC that have stuck with you over the years? In other words, how has your UC education helped you be the best teacher you can be?
One of the most valuable skills I learned during my time at the University of Cincinnati was adaptability. Juggling university course work, extracurriculars, and leadership positions made for an easier transition into juggling the many decisions and responsibilities teachers have every day, but teaching is a constantly evolving profession. Students and expectations are always changing. During my time at UC I saw student activity leaders and advisors adapt to changing social climate, professors help us adapt to changing licensure expectations, and student teaching mentors and supervisors model adapting lessons for all students. It is a skill that I use every day with every student to suit every need.
What is one unexpected experience during your time at UC that you would like to share?
I actually began my freshmen year as an engineering major, certain that it was the right path because of my high school experience and academic strengths. It only took a quarter (this was before the change to semesters) for me to realize it wasn't a good fit and follow my heart into Early Childhood Education.
What do you love most about teaching? In other words, why did you choose this profession?
Teaching is a career that is challenging but also impactful to many. I love watching young minds grow and develop when I have them. I love being creative and innovative while inspiring others to achieve their goals.
What lessons did you learn at UC that have stuck with you over the years? In other words, how has your UC education helped you be the best teacher you can be?
UC taught me some of my most rewarding lessons, making me the educator I am now. However, I would say the most important one was helping me create the narrative of what type of teacher I would be and how to best interact with my students. Since UC has allowed me to find my teaching style, I have used what I've learned to help me develop various ways to connect with students and help them learn.
What is one unexpected experience during your time at UC that you would like to share?
One incredible experience at UC was writing a children's book. The course options at UC were fascinating, and one class I took that surrounded diversity and inclusion allowed me to choose a way to present my learnings. As a result, I decided to write and illustrate a book. I have yet to publish the book, but this experience alone taught me how important it is to incorporate different learning strategies and spaces for students to display their knowledge.
What do you love most about teaching? In other words, why did you choose this profession?
I love that no day is the same and the kids always keep things interesting. I really enjoy teaching because I love working with students, building relationships, and learning with them. There really is never a dull moment with 6th graders.
What lessons did you learn at UC that have stuck with you over the years? In other words, how has your UC education helped you be the best teacher you can be?
UC helped me become more independent and confident. I had to learn to adapt and put myself out there to meet new people and create new & positive experiences for myself. These skills all helped me become a better teacher by being willing to try new things, have confidence, and be flexible.
What is one unexpected experience during your time at UC that you would like to share
Even though I was new to Cincinnati and UC is a large campus, I was still able to find lots of ways to get involved and get to know new people. I joined a sorority, worked at the library on campus, was a peer leader, and played intramural volleyball to name a few. I was able to meet some amazing friends that I am still close with today and create a lot of great experiences even though I moved to Cincinnati knowing no one.
What do you love most about teaching? Why did you choose this profession?
What I love most about teaching and my current job is my students. They are absolutely amazing, loving, and kind and I couldn't be more proud to be their teacher.
What lessons did you learn at UC that have stuck with you over the years? How has your UC education helped you be the best teacher you can be?
Being an undergrad research assistant with Dr. Hord was my favorite learning experience at UC. He is such an amazing educator and taught me so many lessons while tutoring, writing, and creating opportunities for me to be the best version of myself. When tutoring at Hughes High School, it gave me a glimpse into my future as a CPS educator. I learned how to best serve students in the CPS community and how to incorporate foundational skills into Algebra I lessons. We were able to produce a couple of research articles based on the tutoring happening in the Algebra I classroom. This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I wouldn't trade it for the world.
What is one unexpected experience during your time at UC that you would like to share?
During my time at UC, I had an opportunity to meet a CPS employee that would change the trajectory of my teaching career. While student teaching, I was able to observe her demonstration classroom at Chase Elementary. This person became a person I looked up to and aspired to be. I was able to connect with her during my first year of teaching at CPS and learn so much from her. From then on, she became a mentor and opened so many doors and opportunities for me. Networking through her has changed my teaching path tremendously.
What do you love most about teaching? Why did you choose this profession?
Teaching is a job like no other. There are so many reasons why I get up every morning and love to go do my job. I get to play music and dance with my students when they come in. I get to be a shoulder to cry on or warm arms for students to run into for a hug. I get to mold minds and teach little brains how to read. I get to work with 20 of my best friends! Not many other people can say that. Every day is completely different than the day before.
What lessons did you learn at UC that have stuck with you over the years? How has your UC education helped you be the best teacher you can be?
UC does an amazing job at getting students into classrooms as soon as possible. It was such a great way for me to be mentored, as well as see what teaching is. It allowed me to be able to make sure that this is the career I wanted early on. I fell in love with it the first time I stepped into a classroom as a UC student. I truly got to learn hands-on and get real experiences.
What is one unexpected experience during your time at UC that you would like to share?
I got my current job in Nashville by reaching out to other UC alumni that were teachers and they were able to connect me to a UC alumna who worked at a school in Nashville. The UC teacher community is so large and strong. It is always worth reaching out and making connections.
Gage Woolley, CAHS '15
Program Director, Alumni Engagement, College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services & College of Nursing