When Abigail Goldberg graduated with her undergraduate degree in anthropology, she was set to pursue a career in death investigating. An unexpected job during the COVID-19 pandemic, however, changed her whole career course and launched her into teaching.

During the pandemic, Goldberg started a job teaching seventh and eighth grade humanities. She loved it so much that she decided to go back to school, so that she could be the best teacher that her students deserved. Goldberg pursued the master’s degree at ���������� in curriculum and instruction and the humanities education track where she could develop her knowledge of theory, pedagogy and practice. Her commitment to teaching and building her knowledge shined and she was selected as the 2024 Outstanding Graduate in the program.

“At every turn, Abby has demonstrated commitment to her teaching, centering her high school students’ perspectives and building her knowledge of anti-oppressive pedagogy,” said Professor Elizabeth Dutro, one of her award nominators. 

Goldberg’s capstone research project looked into the question: “What are the impacts of a no-homework policy on engagement, motivation and well-being in a ninth grade class?” Her project, which included collecting student-centered data such as interviews, focus groups and ethnographic observations, drew on the knowledge that she’s developed in the MA program.

“For me, graduating from ���������� represents furthering my personal commitments to myself, my students and my community,” said Goldberg. 

“I have always been passionate about creating change wherever I could. As a graduate from ����������, I have gained another stepping stone of my journey. Even if I am not able to enact big changes, I believe I have gained skills to make small changes in the lives of my students.”

In the fall, Goldberg will continue her teaching journey as a ninth grade human development and history teacher. 

In her own words

Please tell us a bit about yourself

  I am originally from the Chicago area. I started my journey with a bachelor's degree in anthropology. After an internship at a coroner's office, I had every intent to pursue a career in death investigating, until COVID-19 hit. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I was offered a job teaching seventh and eighth grade humanities. Although not my original career goal, I absolutely fell in love with it. I decided in order to be the best teacher I wanted to be, I needed to go back to school. Following my parents out to the beautiful city of Boulder, I soon applied and was accepted to ����������.”

What is one of the most significant lessons from your time at ���������� that you’ll carry with you into the next chapter of your life?

  Of the many lessons I learned during my time at ����������, the most significant one was the importance of having a commitment to equity and promoting change. As members of the education community, it is important to use our knowledge to better our communities.”

What does graduating from ���������� represent for you or your family/community?

  For me, graduating from ���������� represents furthering my personal commitments to myself, my students and my community. I have always been passionate about creating change wherever I could. As a graduate from ����������, I have gained another stepping stone of my journey. Even if I am not able to enact big changes, I believe I have gained skills to make small changes in the lives of my students.”

What is your best piece of advice for incoming students?

  My advice for incoming students would be to really dive into what interests you, what excites you and what scares you. There are so many unique and thrilling experiences and courses at ����������. Step out of your comfort zone and follow your passions.”  

What are your next steps after graduation?

  My next steps include continuing my work as a ninth grade human development and history teacher!” 

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After working for the ���������� Office of Information Technology for six years, Marcus Williams decided to switch careers and enroll in the one-year intensive MA+ Secondary Humanities Teacher Licensure program to become a teacher. 

“As a teacher, Marcus is guided by unwavering commitments to justice and to organizing culturally responsive classrooms that honor youth voice,” said Assistant Professor Sara Staley, one of his award nominators. Staley nominated him for the Outstanding Secondary Humanities Master’s Plus Teacher Licensure Program Graduate award.

For his inquiry capstone project, he explored his and his students’ metacognition skills, asking his students to create literacy goals for themselves and guiding them through executive functioning strategies in order to create a safe and equitable learning environment. As a teacher, Williams believes in critical self-reflection and examining his own biases. 

“Learning is vulnerability; teaching is vulnerability,” said Williams. “If I want my students to be open and honest then I must also be open and honest.”

Williams is also an advocate and believes in paying it forward for future student teachers like him. Earlier this spring, Williams testified at the Colorado State Capitol for a hearing for House Bill 24-1290, which discussed state appropriations for the Student Educator Stipend Program established in 2022 to reduce financial barriers for students completing their clinical practices. At the hearing, he testified on the impact of student stipends on his teaching career. 

“Without this stipend, I would not be here in front of you today, but perhaps more importantly, without this stipend I would not be in the classroom,” said Williams. 

“I am proud to be in a profession where I can serve the young people of my community, happy to wake up every morning knowing I have the opportunity to do this for the rest of my working life, and I am thankful to a state that has given me this chance.”

In the fall, Williams will teach personal finance, intro to business/marketing and creative writing at Niwot High School. 

In his own words

Please tell us a bit about yourself

  I received my English and economics degrees from Virginia Tech and an MFA in creative writing and now, an MA in Curriculum and Instruction from ����������. I have also worked for ���������� in the Office of Information Technology for the past six years. I've loved penguins ever since I saw them at the Boston Aquarium in second grade, and I hate onions. Most importantly, I own many, many hats.”

What is one of the most significant lessons from your time at ���������� that you’ll carry with you into the next chapter?

  Learning is vulnerability; teaching is vulnerability. If I want my students to be open and honest then I must also be open and honest.”

What is your best piece of advice for incoming students?

  The only life path is the one behind us.”

What are your next steps after graduation?

  I will be teaching Personal Finance, Intro to Business/Marketing, and Creative Writing at Niwot High School.”

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Growing up with numerous teachers in her family, Taylor Renquist always knew she wanted to attend ���������� and become a teacher to make an impact on students. After double majoring in Spanish and Mathematics at ����������, she came back for a one-year intensive in the MA+ Mathematics Teacher Licensure program. 

As part of the first cohort of the program, Renquist did her student teaching at Niwot High School and will continue this fall at the school as a mathematics teacher after graduation. She is the 2024 Outstanding STEM Education and CU Teach MA+ Teacher Licensure Program Graduate. 

“In her student teaching placement at Niwot High School, Taylor has been very attentive to developing a student-centered approach in her teaching, with a focus on raising student voices and developing positive discourse practices within her classroom,” said Assistant Teaching Professor Ian Her Many Horses, one of her award nominators.

“We look forward to working with her as an educator in our community supporting students in ways that value their perspectives, ideas, and interests.”

In her own words

Please tell us a bit about yourself

  I'm from Colorado—born and raised. I kind of always knew that I wanted to attend ���������� and be a teacher. Both of my parents graduated from CU. It is where they met and started dating. So, I grew up surrounded by all things CU. This included going to football games at Folsom, even when the football team was really bad. Thus, when I started looking at colleges, CU was at the top of my list. I completed my undergrad in mathematics and Spanish at CU and now I am in the MA+ program for secondary math education. My mom and many of my family members are teachers. I saw how they impacted students and wanted to do the same.”

What is one of the most significant lessons from your time at ���������� that you’ll carry with you into the next chapter?

  Everything happens for a reason. My freshman year of undergrad, I lived in the dorms and got assigned a random roommate. We hit it off right away and got along really well, which was good because I started college in fall of 2020 and we were together 24/7 in a tiny dorm room. She ended up being my best friend and we still live together four years later. You have no idea who will come into your life or why.”

What is your best piece of advice for incoming students?

  Your college experience may not be what you thought. I started college during Fall 2020, so the majority of my college experience was not normal. Even though my experience was very different than how I thought it would be, I do not have regrets because I learned a lot, met some new friends, and got involved in interesting clubs. 

Another piece of advice, go to office hours and talk to your professors. I am convinced that that is the only reason I have a degree in mathematics.”

What are your next steps after graduation?

  I already have a job to teach at Niwot High School next year. I will be teaching Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II Honors. I am very excited to have my own classroom (and my roommate is very excited to decorate it)!”

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Ellen Teags is a committed educator whose innovation around practices such as mindfulness and metacognition are leading the field. 

After receiving a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Oregon State University, Teags various roles at small businesses — from shipping logistics to data analysis to marketing and technical writing — before deciding to return to her “first love” to become a teacher. 

The students' curiosity, goofiness, individuality, passion, intelligence, diversity, challenges, and potential are all what drive me to show up every day and do good work."

She enrolled in the MA plus teacher licensure program in the School of Education with a desire to improve STEM education and work with youth. Teags excellence as a student and educator shines through in her interactions with students, peers, mentors, and instructors. She was a student teacher at Meadowlark Middle School and is working as a science teacher at Fairview High School while finishing her Master’s requirements. 

Teags received the highest possible evaluations from her mentors and supervisors across three intensive practicum placements while obtaining licensure. She has been named the 2022 Outstanding STEM Education and CU Teach Master’s Plus Teacher Licensure Program Graduate by faculty, and they commend her organized, detail-oriented approach and how she is always striving for improvement. She is deeply committed to teaching STEM for equity and justice and helps her students see themselves as knowers and doers of science. 

“Ellen’s drive and determination is balanced by her sharp wit and quick sense of humor, which, according to her mentors and colleagues, has endeared her to her students,” said her nominators. “We are excited to observe and support Ellen’s continued leadership in her classroom, community, and the teaching profession.”

In her own words

Please tell us a bit about yourself

  Originally from California, I lived in Colorado when I was younger before moving to Oregon. I came back to Colorado for my freshman year of college, which I did at CSU, before moving back to Oregon. My original plan was to get an English and Education degree but, for a variety of reasons, I switched to science and put my dreams of teaching on hold. I completed my undergraduate degree in Biology at Oregon State in 2012, taught science in Uganda for 2 months, and struggled to find a sense of home working in Oregon. I moved back to Colorado in 2014 where I met my husband and started my career. I've held various roles at small businesses, doing everything from shipping logistics to data analysis to marketing and technical writing. Eventually I decided to return to my first love and pursue a career change to become a teacher. I wanted to have a sense of purpose, do something tangible, and work with kids. CU was close and highly ranked for its education program, so it was an obvious choice for me. After deferring my acceptance a year, I started my MA + during the height of the COVID pandemic in 2020. Although the pandemic was challenging, I'm so glad I deferred because it allowed me to meet my awesome cohort of fellow educators!”

What is one of the lessons from your time at ���������� that you’ll carry with you into the next chapter?

  I have learned that I am incredibly resilient, highly capable, and equipped with everything I need to keep learning, growing, and becoming the best version of myself. CU gave me great pedagogical foundations, an amazing shift in perspective in terms of social justice work, and some of my best friends.”

What does graduating from ���������� represent for you and/or your community?

  For me it's the culmination of a decade of getting to know myself and figuring out what I want my legacy to be and where I want to put my energy. Ten years ago I graduated with my bachelors and without a sense of purpose. Now, I graduate with my masters, a career I'm excited for, and a strong sense of direction and meaning. I'm also carrying on the legacy of my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins by joining the teaching ranks.”

What is your best piece of advice for incoming students?

  If you let this program, this work, and this time transform you, it will. Lay down your ego, start with humility, and embrace the process.”

What continues to drive your passion for your work after graduation?

  The students. Their curiosity, goofiness, individuality, passion, intelligence, diversity, challenges, and potential are all what drive me to show up every day and do good work.”

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Corey Ferraro had his sights set on two things: becoming a teacher and attending the ����������. The Master’s Plus Teacher Licensure program in the School of Education allowed him to check both of those boxes in just one year.

Becoming a teacher is a life change I have wanted for many years. Finally putting myself in the position to do this is a dream come true."

“It has been a desire of mine to get into teaching for several years,” said Ferraro, who grew up in Trinidad, Colorado. “Finally, last year I decided to make the attempt for my Masters + Certification. I have wanted to attend the University of Colorado from a very early age and finally being able to do so was an amazing experience. Graduating from CU represents a massive accomplishment for me.”

Not only is Ferraro graduating, but he has also been named the Outstanding Graduate for the MA+ program in Humanities Education, one-year immersive graduate program that leads to both a master’s degree and teacher licensure in English language arts or social studies teaching.

Ferraro’s professors commend his embodiment of the program’s commitment to teaching for equity and justice. 

“Inquisitive and reflective, Corey is an exemplary student who embraces every learning opportunity and considers always how what he is learning applies to his work as an educator,” said Wendy Glenn, professor of Literacy Studies and chair for the Secondary Humanities program. “He pushes himself and his classmates to think more critically about course content and brings a positive, yet realistic, outlook to his work.”

The immersive program features a summer start and student teaching along with coursework during both fall and summer semesters. As a student teacher, Ferraro holds a deep sense of care for his students, and he draws upon his commitments to social justice to create a transformative and affirming classroom space. 

“Corey is the type of teacher that students approach easily,” Glenn said. “He works with students to uncover the many unspoken complicated truths that exist inside them and the history books. It is inspiring to see Corey's students making their own apps to conceptualize the Industrial Revolution or analyzing historical art.” 

Throughout what has been such a difficult year for many educators, Ferraro has demonstrated grace and positivity in his education courses and student-teaching classrooms. He will also draw on the connections he made in his program as he leads his own classroom next year.

“The greatest experience was being involved with such an amazing cohort of peers and an outstanding group of teachers,” he said. “Our program feels like a family, and I appreciate the relationships I have made and look forward to collaborating with this outstanding group for years to come.”

All combined, Ferraro is an extraordinary educator under extraordinary circumstances and beyond. 

“Becoming a teacher is a life change I have wanted for many years,” he said. “Finally putting myself in the position to do this is a dream come true.”

What graduation means to Corey

Graduating from CU represents a massive accomplishment for me. I wanted to attend the University of Colorado from a very early age and finally being able to do so was an amazing experience. Becoming a teacher is a life change I have wanted for many years. Finally putting myself in the position to do it is a dream come true.”

Corey’s special thanks

First, I would like to thank my family! My wife Lindsey inspires me to reach for more and fully supports me.Second, I would like to thank the amazing School of Education faculty and staff. Israel is the best Academic Advisor out there. Wendy, Bethy, Sara, Kent, Andrea, Ben, Chelsea, and Dan are the dream team of teacher education! You all made this experience amazing. Thank you."

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