Let me tell you. Being a teacher is TOUGH. You're about 40 different jobs wrapped into one, yet you get label the 4th grade or 10th grade English teacher. I've heard horror stories about education departments and the teachers that come out of them. I've heard about discouraging, awful professors that turn you away from what you've been called to do. But I've had the opposite experience.
Going into the School of Education at Charleston Southern, I wasn't sure to expect. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, and the Lord knew I needed them.
Dr. Clerico was my first education professor alongside Dr. Siko, both who lit a fire in me. Their passion and love for their past and present students, their care about how we would love our students, and having so much faith in us, even when we didn't ourselves, made the exciting and scary first semester so much better. I couldn't have imagined having better professors and then I got to the next semester. Every Education professor I have had makes me proud to be a teacher.
You could name any education professor and my heart would probably explode. These professors are encouraging, loving, kind, and tough but prepare you, and they all do it through Christ's love. I have had many a time where I felt drained, discouraged and tired. After a few moments with these educators and I'm ready to roll again. They make me see the light at the end of the tunnel, they remind me of the children I'll get to love on eventually, and they remind me that it's all in God's plan.
I could not be more thankful, appreciative, excited and prepared to be a teacher, and it's all thanks to these INCREDIBLE professors. They radiate God's love and it's incredible apparent though their words, their actions and their love.
So if you're even considering being a teacher, Charleston Southern University is where it's at.
(Also special shout out to Dr. Clerico, Dr. Siko, Dr. Franklin, Dr. Winchester, Dr. Barendse, Dr. Houston, Dr. Sims, and Dr. Floyd[even though Dr. Floyd, Dr. Barendse, and Dr. Sims aren't in school of Ed]: you all have all influenced me greatly in ways I couldn't have imagined. Thank you for pouring into me, I will forever be thankful for you.)