Confidence Built in the Classroom: Ansley's Path to Teaching

As someone who is a Bend native, I have always felt a strong desire to give back to the community that shaped me. Choosing the MAT program at OSU-Cascades felt like the perfect way to do that. I wanted to serve local students and families and eventually teach in the same region that invested so much in me. The small class sizes immediately stood out to me. I wasn’t just another name on a roster. I felt known, supported and valued as a person. The faculty truly care about your success both professionally and personally. They take the time to mentor you, push your thinking and help you grow into the educator you want to become. That level of support and connection made a huge difference in my experience.

Both of my placements played a big role in shaping my confidence, but my second placement was especially immersive. During that experience, I had the opportunity to fully take over the classroom for three weeks. Being responsible for planning, instruction, classroom management, assessment and communication gave me a realistic picture of what teaching truly entails. It was challenging, but it was also empowering.

I was able to apply all of the strategies, frameworks and skills I had been developing throughout the year. That full-time takeover was the moment everything clicked. I realized that I could do this and that I was capable, prepared and ready. It boosted my confidence tremendously and solidified my identity as an educator.

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The MAT program provided a realistic and immersive preparation experience. The combination of rigorous coursework and hands-on classroom placements ensured that I was not just learning theory but actively practicing what I was learning in real time. Teaching is filled with nuanced, on-the-spot decision-making and those skills can only truly be developed in a real classroom setting. Through my placements, I learned how to differentiate instruction, build relationships with students and families, collaborate with colleagues and manage the countless moving pieces of a school day. These are skills that simply cannot be replicated in an online-only program. By the time I graduated, I felt prepared not just academically but practically and emotionally for the demands of leading my own classroom.

I am currently teaching fourth grade in Redmond, and I truly feel like my graduate training allowed me to hit the ground running. From day one, I was able to apply the systems, routines and instructional strategies I had practiced during my program. My training in differentiation, culturally responsive teaching and student-centered instruction shows up daily in my classroom. I feel confident analyzing student data, planning meaningful lessons and creating a classroom environment where all students feel seen and supported. The MAT program did not just prepare me to survive my first year. It prepared me to feel capable and grounded as a professional educator.

My biggest piece of advice is to make it your year or two of yes. The program is challenging. It will stretch you intellectually, emotionally and professionally. It is also incredibly rewarding. Say yes to new opportunities, yes to feedback, yes to growth and yes to stepping outside your comfort zone. I gave the program everything I had, and I can confidently say it was one of the most challenging yet meaningful years of my life. The investment is worth it. If you fully commit yourself to the experience, you will leave not only with a degree but with the confidence and skills to truly make an impact in your classroom and community.