Why I Chose Rider: Master of Arts in Teaching Program

After graduating from George Mason University in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, Alexander Grala returned home to his native New Jersey. A part-time math tutor since high school, he began tutoring full time, and currently works as a paraprofessional at Northern Burlington Regional High School.  

In 2018 he enrolled in Rider’s Post Baccalaureate Teacher Certification (PBTC)/Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program to become a licensed teacher in the state of New Jersey. Grala's experience at Rider has had such a profound impact on him that he would ultimately like to become a college professor. “I want to teach student teachers how to teach, and be able to help others just as the Rider faculty has helped me,” he says.  Marjorie O’Neill graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. She had a successful career as a chemical engineer before retiring to become the mother of special-need twin daughters. After her daughters went off to college, she decided to re-enter the workforce as a substitute teacher. Taking on a long-term first-grade teaching position ignited a spark to return to college to achieve a master’s in teaching with a specialization in elementary education. She is on track to earn her degree in May and hopes to become an elementary school teacher for Howell Township Public Schools.   In the following Q&A, Grala and O’Neill discuss why Rider was the best fit for them when they decided to go back to school and embark on new careers, and explain how the PBTC/MAT program is helping them realize their goal of becoming teachers.  Why did you choose Rider? Alex: When I decided to go back to school for my teaching certification, I was working through some bureaucratic issues with the state regarding my undergraduate transcripts, and I was growing a bit frustrated. I spoke to Jamie Mitchell, the director of graduate and continuing studies admission at Rider, and she gave me the confidence that everything would be OK. I ended up having to take an additional class at Rowan College at Burlington County to meet the requirements for admission to Rider. During this period I could call her at any time, and she would listen to me and walk me through every step. I knew that if everyone at Rider was as caring as she was, it was where I wanted to be.  Marjorie: I chose Rider University because it was highly recommended to me by the human resources department at Howell Township Public Schools, where I am employed as a substitute teacher.  I also chose Rider because they offered a career-changer program, which allowed me to substitute teach during the day and take classes in the evening. It is a perfect fit for me. What has your experience been like in the program? Alex: My experience has been nothing but positive. I’ve just met so many great people. One of the first classes I took here was a literacy class with Dr. Kathleen Pierce. Since my background is in math, initially I was unsure if this was the right class for me to be in, but it ended up being one of the best classes I’ve ever taken. Dr. Pierce has opened my eyes to what education can be. When I tutor, I’ve used the traditional “I do, then we do, then you do” modeling, but the way she teaches, I’m now seeing that the possibilities are so endless. She’s given me a better understanding of how complex education really is, but also the beauty of it and how engaging it is.  Marjorie: My experience has been wonderful. Rider offers an amazing support system in all aspects of the program. The dean and professors are all experienced and incorporate real-world scenarios, as well as theory, into their teaching. Hands-on collaborative work, which becomes an integral part of one’s own portfolio, opportunities to mentor middle-school student writers, and analysis of actual future instructional videos for commentary and feedback were all included in this program. The edTPA support is above and beyond any that I’ve heard about at other institutions. (My substitute teaching afforded me the opportunity to meet student teachers from other colleges/universities and discuss this in detail.) The career guidance portion of Rider’s program is phenomenal too. Resume workshops, interviewing practice and seminars with New Jersey school district superintendents are all offered to us. What would you say to a prospective student who is considering changing careers to become a teacher and looking for the right program? Alex: Research the faculty of the schools you’re considering to see what their background is like and what they’ve accomplished. Then, try to reach out to some of them and see if there’s a rapport.  Marjorie: I would highly recommend Rider to any prospective student looking to change careers. Rider offers a fully-accredited program, which includes edTPA and student teaching, resulting in a teaching certificate with advanced standing. I have already recommended this program to others and I have forewarned them about the limitations of choosing an alternate route program. I personally never considered going “alternate route” because my school district doesn’t employ teachers that take that path, hiring teachers with “advanced standing” only.  What do you think makes Rider unique compared to other schools you were considering? Alex: It’s definitely the support system. Everyone here wants to see you succeed, and nobody wants to see anyone fail. They will work with you and walk you through every step of the way, from admissions to your actual classes to your student teaching to completing your edTPA and getting your certificate. There’s nothing but first-rate support all along those steps.  Marjorie: To be honest, I never seriously considered other schools because Rider was so highly recommended by the school district I am employed in. I attended an orientation meeting at Rider and it was so professionally presented, yet warm and welcoming, that I just knew I found the right fit for me. I will say that one aspect Rider’s program that has really stood out to me has been the student teaching. I loved going to school every day with my cooperating teacher and first-grade class. I learned so much in that semester that could never have been taught to me in a class. It was invaluable. I’m so thankful that Rider provided this opportunity of a lifetime to me. Rider’s program is top-notch — it was more than I expected, yet everything I was looking for and then some.