UTSA gives spring graduate Ayleen González the essentials of teaching

Last August, González began her clinical teaching residency at the Irving Dual Language Academy in the San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) as a third-grade bilingual teacher. She has since accepted a full-time teaching position at the academy.

As she begins the next phase in her teaching journey, González credits UTSA for impacting her future education and career choices. She is especially grateful for the role that the university's residency program played in preparing her to become a teacher.

"I had a mentor teacher from the beginning of the year who I was able to go to for professional development," González said. "My mentor guided me through setting up the classroom and setting expectations from the beginning of the year. This is going to help me as a first-year teacher, because I already have the sense of routine and procedures that I need to implement to have a successful year."

UTSA's coursework also prepared González for current classroom practices. A crucial part of becoming a teacher involves passing the certification tests. UTSA provided the support González needed to earn her teaching certifications while pursuing her degree.

Key to González's preparation was COEHD's Signature Residency Model, which provides cohorts of teaching candidates more opportunities to teach, learn and interact with students, fellow teachers and administrators. The goal is to ensure these future teachers are ready to lead their own classrooms come the first day of school.

"Along with the degree I have, as a bilingual educator, I had five certification tests," González explained. "UTSA offers practice exams and study sessions for us to get that degree. The Academy of Teacher Excellence (ATE) and the workshops provided by UTSA have supported and prepared me for the challenges and requirements needed to be an educator."