By Maegan Murray, ���سԹ�

RICHLAND, Wash. – Veronica Romero had plans to walk with her peers at the Washington State University Tri-Cities commencement this spring. But like many others, those plans are postponed.

Like thousands of college students across the country, she also transitioned to online learning and had to forego the in-person classroom experiences that she enjoys as a future teacher.

But she didn’t let those things phase her. Have there been challenges? Sure. Does she miss the face-to-face interactions with her professors and peers? Definitely. But with the challenges, she said, have come many opportunities.

Growing knowledge of educational technology

As a future teacher, Romero has used the time to become a full-time teacher a bit earlier than planned. The young single mom of two is teaching her own kids at home while completing the rest of her classes online, a time that she truly cherishes. And she has used the move to online learning to brush up on educational tools and technology that are sure to be the future of K-12 education, or at least important components.

“It has been a bit of a difficult transition because the ���سԹ� education program is normally really hands-on, people-focused and student centered,” she said. “But with the transition to distance learning, we are also encouraged to rely on our own technology and use that technology for good.”

As educational technology is a growing field, she said the switch to online learning has helped educate her and her peers on what many teachers will use in the future. She said they rely on different platforms for learning, including videos, interactive media and collaborating more on Zoom breakout sessions.

“It has been hard stepping away from student-centered, hands-on learning, but it’s also been an opportunity to grow our knowledge in these ed tech tools and resources,” she said.

Why education?

Romero said her fifth-grade teacher Jean Kilian and high school leadership teacher Dave Martinez originally inspired her to go into a career in education. Once she began her job as a paraeducator, she was further inspired by MaryBeth Zins, a teacher she worked with that made the classroom “magical” for students.

“I thought, ‘Wow, I want to do that,’ ” she said.

She started looking at education programs and found ���سԹ� to be a good fit. She initially started out in the alternate route program, which provides paraeducators the opportunity to combine their proven classroom experiences with courses where they earn a bachelor’s in education with an English language learning or special education endorsement in two years.

While she loved the program, she missed the immersive full-time student experience. So she transitioned out of the alternate route program and into the traditional education bachelor’s program at ���سԹ�, pursuing her bachelor’s with an endorsement in English language learning.

“It was difficult because I had to step away from being a provider first and from evening classes to being a full-time student, but it was the best decision for me as a teacher and as a student,” she said. “Much more room for making connections.”

Romero said she particularly enjoys the focus that the ���سԹ� College of Education and her professors place on diversity, cultural awareness and teaching with cultural relevancy.

“When I was going through school, there wasn’t as much awareness about Spanish-speaking students and there was a gap because there wasn’t really culturally-relevant teaching,” she said. “WSU’s education program really focuses on whole student-driven education and the diversity in our communities, especially in central and eastern Washington and making it equitable. They are really forward thinking. There is a focus on research and bridging those gaps that we now know exist.”

Parent-teacher

Since the transition to online instruction this spring, Romero has enjoyed bringing those practices into her home when teaching her kids full-time while completing her semester online. She said she regularly utilizes strategies and practices with her kids that she is currently learning about through her classes.

“It’s cool because while my daughter works on her homework, I get to share what I’m learning as a teacher first-hand,” she said. “My daughter is also really into social issues, even at 10 years old. I get to bring home my class material from my political science class and share that with her. It’s been really fun and she really enjoys it.”

Romero’s kids have also noticed a difference in learning styles and have grown to have a new respect for their regular public school teachers. She said her kids see the day-to-day prep that goes into preparing for lessons and observes her teaching strategies in action.

“They have a different appreciation for their teachers,” she said.

Future is bright

Romero now has one semester left before finishing her education degree, but said she can’t wait to begin her life as a full-time teacher locally in either her hometown of Sunnyside or somewhere else regionally in the mid-Columbia area in Washington state.

“I currently substitute teach in Sunnyside and I have a really great connection with the community that we serve, but I’m also open to serving the community wherever there is a need,” she said.

Romero said she plans to put the culturally-relevant teaching practices she has gained through the ���سԹ� College of Education to good use. She plans to use the leadership skills she gained through WSU for preparing the region’s future leaders as a teacher. Additionally, she plans to pursue her master’s degree in education.

“I have always wanted to be a Coug,” she said. “Cougs lead the way, and that is what I will take away from WSU as a whole – it’s that WSU culture of leading. Specifically what I have taken from the education program, is what it is to be a leader and continue innovating in the way that we teach, the way that we communicate and the way that we connect and collaborate. You should strive to be a positive agent for change in society, and especially in the education system as a teacher.”

Romero was one of several thousand graduating students from WSU across the state to participate in the first-ever WSU systemwide graduation celebration.

 

Media contacts:

Veronica Romero, ���سԹ� education student and graduating senior, veronica.romero@wsu.edu

Maegan Murray, ���سԹ� public relations/communication coordinator, 619-403-3617 (cell), maegan_murray@wsu.edu

By Maegan Murray, ���سԹ�

RICHLAND, Wash. – Student Maria Fernanda Vargas discovered her future career almost by accident after attending Washington State University Tri-Cities while still in high school.

As a senior high school student in the running start program, Vargas was initially interested in nursing, but after performing an internship in the medical field and working in the GEAR UP program and as a student ambassador at ���سԹ�, she realized her true calling lie in helping students achieve their full potential.

“Working with GEAR UP, I was able to assist seniors in high school with their college and financial aid applications. I also gave a few presentations providing more information on important deadlines and scholarships available.” She said. “I realized I love working with students.”

As the first in her family to attend college, Vargas said she had a lot of questions about the college process and procedures where her parents weren’t able to help as much because they hadn’t been through it, themselves.

But through the acceptance, help and support that she experienced as a student at ���سԹ�, she was able to navigate the process successfully.

“One day I hope to give back and make a difference for our future generations,” she said.

As an education student, Vargas said she learned from professors who really take an interest in their students, working with them to make sure they are successful. The opportunities for networking at ���سԹ�, she said, have also been huge.

“Through events like our Etiquette Dinner, where students get to interact with prospective employers, and the career fair, where you can meet a lot of people from out in the community – those events are great for networking,” she said. “And the staff and professors here on campus are also great with connecting students to individuals out in the industry and are always willing to help.”

While Vargas is still young in her education program at ���سԹ�, she said she looks forward to the practicum experiences that she will gain through the program. Through the experiences, Vargas will have the opportunity to work out in local school districts to receive real-world opportunities in the classroom.

In addition to her studies, Vargas also works in the admissions office as a student ambassador and serves as part of the MEChA Club and the Compass Christian Club. She is also a member of the TRIO program, which provides academic and social support for students who are first-generation, economically disadvantaged or have a documented disability.

Her involvement in various student and campus-led initiatives and programs, she said, has made for a wonderfully well-rounded student experience.

“I love it here and if I had a chance to pick a college again, I would make the same choice,” she said. “I feel like we have every resource available for every single student to be successful here at ���سԹ�.”

After graduating the year after next, Vargas hopes to work for the Pasco School District, which is where she grew up going to school. She aims to become a math teacher working with middle school students or with second-grade students – possibly in a bilingual program.