We have awarded master of arts degrees in teaching to people who have made a profound impact on education.
For example, the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Education was awarded in May 2006 to Crystal (Palumbo) Caouette ’96, MAT ’97,who teaches chemistry and physics at Crosby High School in Waterbury, Conn.
Our graduates work in school districts and institutions across the country as teachers at all grade levels, heads of education departments and school administrators. Our graduates build strong, lasting friendships with their professors, fellow alumni and the students they teach.
The success of our graduates and the admiration they have earned from their professional peers have given Quinnipiac a reputation of academic excellence. As Jeffrey Villar, associate superintendent for instruction for Meriden schools in Connecticut, says, “Quinnipiac-trained teachers are among my best.”
The ultimate judges of our program are the people who have experienced it and the school administrators who hire our graduates. This is what they say:
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Robert Wolfe, superintendent of schools in North Branford, Conn., says, “Quinnipiac graduates we have hired to be teachers understand best practices, such as the inclusive classroom, differentiation, integrating technology and writing across the curriculum. Quinnipiac graduates are well trained in these areas. Quinnipiac’s education program is exemplary in turning out high-quality candidates.”
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Julie Maresca ’00, sixth-grade language arts teacher and head of the language arts department at Thomas Edison Magnet Middle School in Meriden, Conn., says, “When I heard I was selected as the 2004 ACES [Area Cooperative Educational Services] Teacher of the Year, one of the first people I called was Cynthia Dubea [dean of Quinnipiac’s Division of Education] to thank her for all the program did to prepare me for teaching. I am who I am as a teacher because of the people at Quinnipiac who helped me discover and support my teaching philosophy. The mix of formal instruction and real classroom experience during my two years was just enough to set me up for success in my own classroom.”
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Sheila Wycinowski, director of curriculum and staff development at Amity High School in Woodbridge, Conn., says, “Basically, we look to hire Quinnipiac students. They have a clear understanding of lesson planning and classroom management and the balance between them.”
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Vincent Iezzi, principal of Hamden High School, says, “I have found Quinnipiac graduates to be well prepared for the challenging profession of education. The alumni we have hired are well versed in pedagogy and course content.”
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James Sachs ’97, dean of students at Catherine M. McGee Middle School in Berlin, Conn., says, “Quinnipiac’s training forced me to ask questions and not be satisfied with status quo answers. I was taught to think hard about changing the system for the better, rather than just being in it. That’s why I decided to be proactive and pursue a career in school administration. My training begged me to ask not what I can do for my classroom, but what can I do for my entire school.”
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Lisa Miller ’02, English teacher at Sheehan High School in Wallingford, Conn., says, “Teaching is a second career for me. Fortunately, Quinnipiac made the transition from the workplace to the classroom seem very natural. The instructors were outstanding and the courses were extremely relevant, useful and readily applicable to the classroom. When I first started teaching, I felt extremely confident and prepared as a result of the master of arts in teaching program."