Preparing Passionate Teachers
Giulietta Romero ’08, a kindergarten teacher at Robertson Elementary School in Manchester, always wanted to be a teacher. A highly motivated and talented student, Romero chose UConn, she says, “because it has one of the best education programs in the country.”
The graduate education program at UConn’s Neag School of Education is ranked first on the East Coast and twelfth nationally among public institutions. The school is home to two federal centers for education research and is one of only 11 institutions selected to participate in Teachers for a New Era, a landmark initiative spearheaded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York and dedicated to promoting the highest caliber teacher preparation programs.
Research shows that the quality of a teacher has a profound influence on pupil success. Embracing this philosophy, the Neag School created a competitive integrated five-year bachelor’s/master’s degree program in education.
“The program was rigorous and challenging. It involved inquiry-based research and substantial hands-on experience in classrooms, and it gave me an outstanding foundation for what I am doing today,” says Romero, who received two of the Neag School’s top honors, including the Neag Scholarship and the Exley Scholarship—a prestigious privately endowed award that encourages students of color to become teachers.
UConn-educated teachers are highly sought after by schools in Connecticut and beyond. More than 90 percent of students accept teaching positions upon graduation.
“I am implementing so many of the things I learned,” says Romero. “I am doing exactly what I always wanted to do: help children learn and grow.”
