IESE Alumni Testimonials

Abby Stillings, '22

Special education teacher at Hopkins Public School.

"I loved how we had a practicum during our first semester. It was so helpful to get into a classroom right away to get a feel for what teaching would be like and have the opportunity to implement what we were learning in class with students right away.

I loved my time at UMD! IESE has the "Blocks" where you take your classes with a cohort of peers ... I found it so helpful to have a group of people I could reach out to for support. The professors are so knowledgeable ... Most have taught in schools themselves, so they bring a lot of real-world examples to their classes."

Danika Beck, '21

Kindergarten teacher at McKinley Elementary School in Owatonna, MN.

"I learned the most when I was in the classroom with real children and real scenarios. Having this experience set me up to be prepared for my own classroom.

I could go on about how amazing my experience was at UMD. The staff was excellent, professors truly cared about your experience and made sure it was as close to real-life as possible vs busy work. I had the opportunity to visit and be placed at many schools within the school district, and learned so many valuable lessons from my time at UMD."

Sarah Goodrich, '22

Third-grade teacher in the Spanish-immersion program at Pine Island Public Schools.

"The dual licensure aspect of the IESE program was most helpful in preparing me for employment. Coming in with a solid understanding of special education has allowed me to support my students and collaborate with colleagues and families.

Overall, my experience at UMD was extremely positive. I appreciated how supportive and helpful my professors were with creating meaningful activities and answering questions. I also really enjoyed the blocks and getting to be with the same classmates for multiple semesters. It helped to build a positive community that allowed me to grow into a more confident teacher."

Jordan Fleek, 21

Social Emotional Behavioral Specialist at Lester Park Elementary in Duluth.

"UMD’s strong partnerships with local districts allowed for extensive in-classroom experience long before my student teaching. Seeing a variety of schools, grade levels, and programs firsthand was essential to understanding the reality of modern education beyond the coursework. Furthermore, the ability to earn my special education license alongside my elementary focus made me incredibly marketable, and gave me the unique toolkit I use daily to bridge the gap between general and special education for my students.

My experience at UMD is a huge part of who I am today. Coming from the Twin Cities, my time in the program showed me how special and unique the Duluth community is, ultimately inspiring me to build my career and life here."

Kaitlyn Scholla, '24

Level 3 autism special education teacher at Andover Elementary School.

"My time in IESE at UMD was nothing less than amazing, and forever grateful for my time in the program. IESE taught me an abundance amount of knowledge, but I believe the aspect that sticks with me the most is learning how to differentiate a lesson plan to meet all of my students' learning needs. It has helped me look at each student individually, where their needs are at, strengths, struggles, etc. When I differentiate my lesson plans, I am not only meeting my students' needs, but I am creating an inclusive and welcoming classroom environment where everyone feels welcome and safe.

I loved my time in the program, but I would not have made it through without the professors. They pushed me, looked past my struggles, supported me, gave constructive criticism, and without that, I would not be the teacher I am today."

Abi Pekula, '22

Elementary special education teacher in Little Falls, MN.

The multiple practicum experiences, along with professors who brought strong real-world backgrounds, were the most helpful aspects of the IESE program in preparing me for employment. Teaching in a variety of schools and across different types of educational settings allowed me to gain valuable perspective and adapt my practice to meet diverse student needs. These hands-on experiences helped me enter my first few years of teaching with confidence.

I have remained in contact with several of my professors, as their mentorship and guidance have made a lasting impact on both my life and the teaching philosophies I continue to carry with me every single day!

College of Education and Human Service Professions

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