Meet Katelyn Schlotter, an elementary education student who is returning this fall to complete her bachelor's degree in elementary education. From a young age, Katelyn was inspired by her mother's personal connection with students. "Working alongside her has provided me with numerous opportunities to learn and improve, constantly striving to become a better educator," Katelyn shared.
Being a teacher is about learning and adapting to new ways of teaching so that every student has the best opportunity available to find success in the future. Katelyn has taken many education courses at Marian to ensure she is on track to being the best teacher she can be. One of her favorite examples she mentioned were the debriefing sessions following classroom observations, an insightful opportunity for each student to share and compare their experiences. This helps other education students share things they learned while working with young learners—it is an opportunity to share what works and what does not work and an opportunity for them to critique each other's work in a helpful manner.
When looking at schools, Katelyn chose Marian University's Ancilla College for an associate degree in elementary education with the added opportunity to play soccer. Graduating with the class of 2024, she decided to continue her education at Marian University's Ancilla College, becoming one of the first to join the four-year elementary education program.
In the spring of 2024, she put what she learned to use as she was able to teach as an instructional assistant in an academic classroom at Indian Creek Elementary in the Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township (MSDLT). Katelyn's classroom experiences have taught her important lessons about the challenges of teaching. She has learned that while she cannot control everything, she can still make a significant impact by supporting and helping students improve their behavior rather than labeling them negatively. Katelyn is determined to continue making a difference in her students' lives, helping them understand and tackle their challenges, and creating a supportive, personalized environment to help them succeed.