Samantha Gregg
Samantha Gregg has always wanted to be an educator.
From an early age, she had been lining up her stuffed animals, or her "students," and positioning herself in front of them to teach as if it were her own classroom.
While purely an imaginary experience, Gregg says she hoped to someday make that childhood routine a reality.
When she began to search and tour schools years later, USF stood out for many reasons. She saw a big university with a small college feel. More importantly, she saw a place that would allow her to reach her highest potential.
“It feels small,” Gregg said. “But it feels like you’re apart of something bigger.”
Upon arriving at USF, Gregg moved into the Education Living Learning Community (eduCARE), a Living Learning Community (LLC) exclusively for 30 first year education majors. Students who are admitted to the LLC enjoy the benefits of living in a community that helps them explore the education profession and learn through various workshops, seminars, and social events hosted throughout the school year.
With an environment that allows for networking, volunteering and leadership opportunities, Gregg found herself immersed in a world that facilitated her success academically as an elementary education major.
Additionally, she was also able to create and nurture relationships with students who all shared similar interests and goals in mind.
“The people I met my freshman year are still my best friends today,” Gregg said. “Some of them have already graduated and some of them are still in school with me, but we all are still so close and supportive of one another. We didn’t try hard to search for each other. The LLC provided that for us.”
When she reflects on the four years she has spent in the LLC, Gregg recalls a ton of memories. Her favorite being a sleepover the LLC hosted her freshman year. Seeing how everyone dragged their mattresses to the lounge area and grouped together as if they were a family led her to deem the place as the “home away from home.”
Similarly, when Gregg thinks back to her toughest moments at USF, she named numerous members of the College of Education community who pushed her to keep going when she needed it the most.
Gregg mentioned Lindsey Williams, coordinator of the LLC, and Alyssa Chism, a graduate assistant for Student Academic Services, as the two individuals who helped her navigate the different leadership positions she attained in the community. She also considers Diana Wisth, a prior resident assistant for LLC, as an incredible mentor during her first two years.
Gregg said she believes it’s much harder for a student to succeed when they don’t have the right people surrounding them, and she’s grateful that this wasn’t the case for her.
“If you’re feeling run down, being able to have someone you can turn to when you’re not sure if what you’re doing is working or worthwhile really helps to keep you motivated,” Gregg said.
Knowing the impact that a support system can have for students entering their academic career, Gregg continued with the LLC as a peer mentor, and is now a resident assistant for those living in the community.
As a leader, she’s been able to break through her shyness barrier by actively guiding incoming students on the area of education they want to pursue.
Along with leadership on campus, Gregg has also transitioned to field experiences at New River Elementary School, where she is able to gain hands-on experience with children of varying ages as part of her ongoing internship.
Working with kindergarten and second grade students at the school has reaffirmed that she’s passionate about education. Nonetheless, Gregg admits that there have been some challenges along the way.
“I’m a bit of a push-over,” Gregg said. “So, finding out how to manage behavior has definitely been my biggest struggle.”
In an effort to overcome this hurdle, Gregg decided to do her inquiry research, a requirement for all Elementary Education majors, on behavior management.
“It’s something I wanted to improve,” Gregg said. “I (studied): ‘What it means to be a warm demander in the classroom.’”
Furthermore, observing how educators at her internship handle certain situations has enabled her to structure her own teaching style.
“Seeing what works for them has really helped me to say, ‘I can try that out, see how it works for me and then tweak it so I can make it my own,” Gregg said.
With research built into her degree program, Gregg said she enjoys the freedom she has to pick the topics that interest her the most. This year, her research focus has shifted to “morning meeting” in the classroom, which involves planning engaging activities and interactions with students during the first 30 minutes of the school day.
Gregg affirms that morning meeting facilitates success in students academically and socially.
“Behavior usually tends to be a little bit more complicated if you don’t have morning meeting that day than if you were to have it,” Gregg said. “It truly has an impact on how the rest of the day goes by.”
Though she has observed upper-level classrooms during her time at New River, Gregg has felt a deeper connection with younger students who fall between kindergarten and second grade levels.
With plans to graduate in the spring, Gregg aspires to work in an elementary school in the Tampa Bay area and to make a difference in her students’ lives by making sure they know their value.
“I want to be a cheerleader for all my students,” Gregg said. “So they'll know that they can accomplish anything they set their mind to.”
Her advice for individuals who plan to pursue a degree in Elementary Education is to get involved as much as they can. However, there’s one piece of advice that she believes to be essential for a student on the path to becoming an educator.
She’s heard the story of the marigold repeatedly during her time living in the LLC, yet as the years progressed at USF, she now fully understands the significance of its message.
“Walnut trees suck the energy out of you and drain you,” Gregg said. “But a marigold is a beautiful flower that lifts you up and supports you when you’re not feeling your best. So, find someone in this profession, in your cohort or in the LLC who is that marigold for you.”
USF's Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education is designed for students who wish to pursue a career as an elementary classroom teacher. Our program develops students’ understanding of inquiry, inclusion, innovation and integrated instruction while preparing teachers for a diversity of learners.