More than 25,000 educators make Walden their first choice. Why? Read for yourself.
The following is an interview with Stephanie Doyle, the 2009 Virginia Teacher of the Year
and a current
Walden M.S. in Education student.
Walden: Why did you become a teacher?
Stephanie: I became a teacher because of a mentor from Big Sisters of Roanoke Valley, Va., who worked with me when I was a young girl. We did homework together, and she was there to give me extra support. I graduated from college thanks to my mentor. I have been teaching in Roanoke City Public Schools for 10 years, first as a third-grade teacher and now as sixth-grade teacher.
Walden: What does it mean to you to be named Teacher of the Year?
Stephanie: I have enjoyed every minute, especially taking this journey with all of the other Teacher of the Year award winners. You really get a broad perspective of the state of education in this country, and it reinforces the relevance of the Walden curriculum. You feel like you are part of a grassroots effort to change the education system with educators who do it every day.
Walden: Why did you choose Walden to obtain an advanced degree?
Stephanie: I had taken graduate courses here and there, but I have a family at home and I could not justify spending two years in the classroom and missing so many family moments. Walden perfectly fits my needs. It allows me to be a full-time teacher, mom, and student—all at once. It gives me the freedom to work at night. When my daughter goes to bed, my schoolwork can begin.
Walden: What do you think of Walden faculty?
Stephanie: Walden faculty members are exceptional. They are kind facilitators who pose thoughtful questions. They want you to grow through your learning experiences. That growth is fostered through online interaction and powerful discussions.
Walden: What does your employer think about your degree from Walden?
Stephanie: When I spoke about the freedom that Walden offered, it sparked a lot of intrigue among my colleagues. A group of my colleagues have attended or are attending Walden and love their experiences. Online learning is the way of the future.
Walden: What is your daily routine like when you are taking a Walden course?
Stephanie: I work two to three hours each evening between 7:30 and 10:30 p.m., and I may work on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. If you monitor your time, the work is extremely doable. Walden makes everything easy for you. You can plan ahead around your schedule. You know when assignments are due. You can make the best use of your time to fit your coursework into your schedule.
Walden: What are some similarities between Walden and traditional, campus-based universities?
Stephanie: I have attended both types of universities, and they both offer timely, highly relevant coursework, but the method of delivery is very different. In a traditional course, one person—your professor—is the expert. Walden puts experts in the field at your fingertips through DVD presentations that you can listen to over and over, at your convenience. It is so meaningful to hear directly from these experts. Even when the course is complete, you have so many educational resources that you can refer to later.
Walden: In addition to teaching full time, what other types of commitments are you balancing with your studies?
Stephanie: My 4-year-old daughter is my biggest commitment outside the classroom. I also started a branch of the Milken Educator Network in Virginia with a 1998 Virginia Teacher of the Year award winner. The network connects great educators of promise in the state. We put together a two-day Teachers of Promise Institute for aspiring teachers, who are getting ready to graduate from college. The cream of the crop of young teachers in Virginia is chosen to attend the event, which includes a gala dinner to celebrate their decision to become teachers. They are paired with top-notch teachers and attend sessions to talk about their future careers, fears, and all facets of education.
Walden: What have been your greatest accomplishments in teaching?
Stephanie: Knowing the value of a good mentor firsthand, I began my own mentoring program, Girls Rising Onto Womanhood (GROW), for girls in grades seven through 12. The majority of these students have never been out of the city or seen the ocean. We have intentionally kept the program small to be sure girls receive one-on-one attention. I serve as the mentor and other teachers assist. We try to build the social and academic skills that students will need in the future. We want to erase the “at-risk” label so these students have the same opportunities and many of the same experiences as their peers. We want to help them move forward and give them the drive to go to college.
Related to that, a few years ago, I had a student in my new crop of sixth graders, and we built a strong relationship. But the next year, her family moved to the toughest housing project in the city, and she joined a gang. She stopped going to school and was involved in gang activity. Her mother was distraught. Along with her mom, her pastor, and her church, I helped to develop a plan to take her to school in the morning and bring her home at night. Working with the community to keep this student in school and on the right path was very powerful, and she remains in school today.
Join Stephanie and more than 29,000 other Walden education students and alumni. Choose Walden for your education program. Complete the information request form or call 1-800-997-4154 .