Class of 2024: First undergraduate class in decades makes history for School of Education

For the first time in nearly two decades, there is an undergraduate class graduating from the School of Education.

The school revived its undergraduate programs in fall 2021 after a decades-long hiatus. It has continued to offer a wide range of graduate programs since the school’s inception.

The school's seven undergraduate students are making history this month as their college journey ends and the next chapter begins – teaching.

Three graduating students talk about about their experience with the School of Education, why they chose the field, and where they’re headed next.

Name: Reagan Guzik

Major: History and social sciences education

Hometown: Fairfax County

Plans after graduation: Return to her hometown to teach middle school U.S. history

Favorite Hokie memory:  Student teaching was Guzik's favorite experience at Virginia Tech. "I have had an incredible cooperating teacher that has helped pave the way for me to feel vastly prepared for my incoming experience as a first-year teacher," she said. "Additionally, the relationships that I have been able to build with the students and my colleagues have truly made this experience monumental."

Finding community

Guzik said she chose Virginia Tech because of its strong sense of community.

“Not only does Virginia Tech have this at the university level, but the School of Education  feels like a small family within this larger community,” she said. “I have truly had the opportunity to get to know each of my peers and professors on a personal level, and I am so happy with my decision every day.”

Looking ahead

With post-grad life just around the corner, Guzik said she feels “incredibly prepared” for what’s to come as she gets back into the classroom in her first teaching position this August.

“Between our professors and university supervisor, we have been exposed to numerous different experiences that have helped shape my practice,” she said. “I honestly look forward to starting this new position in August because I can’t wait to put all of these amazing ideas together in my own classroom.” 

Guzik said that being a part of the first undergraduate class in decades has truly helped shape her experience at the School of Education.

“I am so thankful that Virginia Tech opened up the program to us during my time here. Being the first undergrad class in decades has also allowed us to work alongside the graduate cohort,” she said. “Collaborating with not only my fellow undergrad peers but also the graduate students has really helped me improve and challenge my practice.”

Name: Savannah Mihalo

Major: English language arts education

Hometown: Check, Virginia

Plans after graduation: Find a teaching position in Northern Virginia

Favorite Hokie memory:  “The highlight of my time at the school has been being able to practice my teaching skills in my student teaching placement alongside my mentor," Mihalo said. "I have learned the most from this authentic experience, and I have the school to thank for making it happen. I have also enjoyed wonderful learning experiences with my peers in my methods classes, and I really do appreciate how much they have contributed to my growth as an educator. We have had a lot of engaging conversations that have helped prepare us for our careers and just having this time and space to do this was a gift from the school.”

Education runs in the family

When looking at where to attend college, Mihalo said her family played a huge part in her decision.

“From the beginning of high school, I knew I would set my sights on Virginia Tech," she said. "My grandparents, who are no longer with me, had always greatly admired VT and hoped that I would attend. My parents were also excited for me to attend VT, and I feel like I have made both sets of parents proud by succeeding in my classes here.”

That, paired with the fact that her grandparents and parents were all educators, made the School of Education the perfect fit for her.

“The School of Education was the best of both worlds, since it kept me at the university I wanted to graduate from and allowed me to grow and mature in the career I wanted to pursue,” she said. “Not to mention that there is a shortage of teachers in our nation, so I also thought that this was a great path for me to take in a time where people like me are needed to help the youth in our country. I am very fortunate that the undergrad program was suddenly available when it was.”

Blossoming with support

Mihalo said her confidence has grown thanks to student teaching and other experiences she has had in the School of Education.

“Once I made it to my student teaching semester I blossomed with the support of the school,” she said. “It seemed like by the time I reached this point, the faculty understood what I needed when it came to lending their assistance, and they were able to provide me with the support I needed. I am thankful for this, and I am glad that I have been able to evolve alongside the school."

Name: Ryn Marshall

Major: History and social sciences education

Hometown: Danville

Plans after graduation: She hopes to get a job as a high school teacher in or around Danville.

Favorite Hokie memory:  Marshall said working with David Hicks, a professor, and Sara Evers, a doctoral student, was her favorite part of her Virginia Tech experience.

"I’ve really enjoyed being able to work with them and see their own experiences and how they’ve shaped their own understanding," she said. "They’ve been in the field for a very long time and have a lot of connections that they’ve used to help introduce us to important people in the field.”

Being a positive light for students

Marshall said working in the education field is incredibly important to her - not just because of the nationwide teacher shortage, but also because she feels strongly about being a positive influence on her students.

“It’s important to not only show them what you should do as just a person that lives around other people, but also to be there to positively encourage them,” she said.

It's also important to show students how to use mistakes as opportunities to learn and grown, she said.  

Finding support in the classroom

That positive feeling that Marshall wants to create for her students stems from the support and positive environment she felt from Hicks and Evers.

“They’re both very understanding that everybody has different styles and different classrooms have different environments and that the needs of each student are different,” Marshall said. “Whenever you’re teaching or they’re observing you or looking at your lesson plans, they’re always very open minded with how you present it and how you interact with students or engage with content.”