Interview is edited for length and clarity.
How did you hear about the master’s program?
When I was ready to transition out of the insurance business and back into teaching, I had to start small. I ended up getting a teacher's aide position in public schools before I was able to work full-time at The New England Center for Children (NECC). I worked in a sub-separate classroom for students with autism. Once I started there, I knew that was my niche. It was so rewarding to see the gains those students were making. I needed to figure out how I was going to earn my degree and work full-time.
After some research, I found NECC and learned about their partnership with Simmons. This unique program allowed me to work full-time as a teacher while pursuing a master’s degree with a specialization in autism. Since becoming a teacher was a second career for me, I jumped at the opportunity to pick up where I left off in my undergraduate years. I was minoring in education at Regis College, but switched directions for an internship and was never able to circle back to what I was most passionate about.
After I got married and my children were grown, I started truly reconsidering going back to school for education. I knew about NECC and decided I could gain experience while building my resume and obtaining my master’s degree.
What courses do you remember most for being particularly challenging or impactful?
Because the master’s degree program at Simmons is designed with a specialization in autism, the coursework emphasizes research-based approaches and strategies for identifying and managing behavioral needs.
While I am not a board-certified behavior analyst, the classes I completed at Simmons provided me with a strong foundation in recognizing behavior patterns and applying effective management strategies. Through my training at NECC and the coursework I was taking at Simmons, I developed a deeper awareness and understanding of why students demonstrate certain behaviors and how to support them using various forms of communication.
These skills allow me to support my students and create a classroom environment responsive to each student’s unique needs. This knowledge not only benefits my students in a substantially separate setting but also enables me to support colleagues in addressing behaviors within their own classrooms. This background and understanding help me connect with my students at their level, especially when challenges arise. I am also able to better understand the reasons behind their actions.
If we are able to move beyond behaviors, then we can get to meaningful teaching and learning. Each of the classes I took at Simmons exposed me to instructional tools that continue to strengthen my teaching pedagogy and help me reach students in diverse and effective ways.
How did you create a work-life balance?
Around the same time I was considering going back to school, my children were getting ready to make a transition into high school. Since my girls were older, I felt more confident that they could take on more responsibility for themselves, and it made me feel like I was able to shift my focus back to school.
It actually ended up being a blessing in disguise, because as my kids were going through school and running into difficult coursework, I would be sitting at the dining table with them doing my own version of homework, and we persevered together. I would always be there to help them through whatever frustrations they were going through, and they did the same for me. It was a full-fledged family affair for me to go back to school. I think everybody was quite relieved once I finished because they got to see all of the time and hard work pay off in something I was so passionate about.
What advice would you give to a student starting the master’s program?
If your “work” doesn’t feel like work, but instead it is a labor of love, you’ve found the right thing. I think of it as finding something you are excited and passionate about. What is something you can work on in your life that provides clear goals? What do you want to achieve? When you can answer that question, the master’s program you choose will become one of the greatest opportunities of your life.
You’ll be working toward your goals, and the hard work will be all the more rewarding. I'm not stressed about my work because I know all that I am doing is for students who need my support and guidance.
If you're studying something hard and you don't mind the challenge, then you know you're in the right place. My advice to someone starting their master’s program is to keep working hard and to be passionate about what you’re doing. When you walk across the stage to get your diploma, be proud!