On Friday, May 13th, members of the MAT@USC community participated in the 2011 Master’s Commencement Ceremony. In this post series we’ll be showcasing some of these remarkable graduates.
The second of four children, Ashley is a Los Angeles transplant from St. Louis, MO. After graduating from Lafayette High School, she attended Truman State University in Kirksville, MO, where she was a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Sigma Chi Delta. In 2008, Ashley graduated from Truman state with a BA in English, with an emphasis in World Literature. She moved to Los Angeles for a change of pace after a stint in the working world as a manager at a popular sushi restaurant in St. Louis. Now a full-fledged Angelino, Ashley is a cupcake connoisseur and has made it her mission to try every restaurant in the Mid-City area. She is also a trivia buff who spends every Tuesday night providing all the correct answers to her friends at local trivia haunts.
Why did you want to be a teacher?
I have always felt drawn to the teaching profession. I always knew that I would be a teacher at some point in my life since I can remember. I have been quite fortunate to have had fantastic teachers throughout my educational career that have encouraged me and inspired me to be a lifelong learner. I was always pushed to achieve at my fullest potential, and their passion really drew me to the profession. While taking courses at Truman State, I went into several classrooms and further solidified my certainty that teaching was my calling.
Why did you choose the MAT@USC?
After graduating from Truman State I applied for Teach for America, but experienced cold feet and decided to go back to school instead. I spent a lot of time researching graduate programs, and nothing left an impression quite like the MAT@USC. I was intrigued by the innovative use of technology and the fact that the online program was exactly the same as being on campus. Also, after living in St. Louis and witnessing the effects of the achievement gap, I felt very strongly to use my passion and dedication to education in an urban setting. My personal goal as an educator is to give every student the tools to succeed and to encourage every student to be a lifelong learner. The urban focus of the MAT@USC was a huge selling point to me, and I knew experience in the LAUSD would be invaluable. The MAT@USC platform also allowed me to work nearly fulltime and complete coursework simultaneously over a majority of the program, and that was very helpful in financing my education. Lastly, even though the program was not on campus, I could still be a part of the Trojan family.
What is the most valuable learning experience you are taking away from the program?
The most valuable learning experience that I am taking away from the program is to first build relationships and get to know students. Not only will the students be more able to learn from a teacher they trust and respect, but the teachers can begin to make the content culturally relevant to make each lesson more meaningful. The teachers and the students should be able to work together to create a community of learning that embraces all people and cultures.
What are your future teaching plans?
After completing the MAT@USC, I am prepared to teach in high needs areas. Just in my Guided Practice experiences, I have begun to form a unique relationship with the city of Los Angeles and its students that I cannot describe. I am currently in the process of applying to several schools in the area and look forward to the opportunity to teach my own classroom of students in a middle or high school.
If you’d like to know about how you can become a teacher in California and make a difference in your local community, contact our Admissions office at 888.MAT.1USC or email us at matadmit@usc.edu.
