Shaleia Wilson of Middletown, N.Y., an English major on the education track at Mount Saint Mary College, teaches fourth graders at Berea Elementary School in Montgomery, N.Y. She will graduate on Saturday, May 18.
Shaleia Wilson of Middletown, N.Y., a Mount Saint Mary College English major on the Childhood and Special Education tracks, says that one of her biggest accomplishments has been learning how to deal with change and challenges.
Over the last four years, this lesson was made apparent to her through her courses in the Mount’s Division of Education, especially through her fieldwork and student teaching experiences.
“I think this skill is very important when going into the education field because things change all the time,” Wilson explained. “Sometimes lessons may not go as planned, and it is crucial to make changes quickly in an enthusiastic manner. Many times, during COVID, when classes were online, my presentation would not go as planned. I learned to move past the inconvenience and still do the best that I can.”
For Wilson, fieldwork and student teaching were more than learning opportunities. The ample hours that she had in the classroom allowed her to sit and observe the environment, helping her connect with the content she’d be teaching.
“Student teaching has been a great experience for me,” she said. “I have learned how to not only co-exist with other professionals, but how to work as a team with experienced educators. It teaches you that being a teacher is all about learning new ways to lead your students to success.”
Wilson completed her student teaching placements at Berea Elementary School in Montgomery, N.Y. and Orange-Ulster BOCES in Goshen, N.Y. during her final semester at the Mount. She taught English Language Arts to fourth graders.
As she prepares for graduation this May, Wilson plans to focus on taking her certification tests and continuing to works as a residence counselor for Rehabilitation Support Services in Newburgh, mentoring emotionally disturbed youth girls. Following her certification, she plans to start applying for teaching positions, including in the districts where she completed her student teaching.
Wilson credits several teachers for helping her succeed throughout her education, including Eunyoung Jung, associate professor of Education; Janine Bixler, professor of Education; and David Gallagher, associate professor of Education. She was especially thankful for the guidance of Sonya Abbye Taylor, associate professor of Education and chair of the Division of Education, who inspired Wilson to be more involved.
“I will miss the professors and the amount of support on campus,” Wilson said. “I will miss how genuine everyone was in the education department and how helpful they were when it came to any questions or concerns I had.”