University of South Florida

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Student Spotlight: Haley Terrell

Haley Terrell is a USF College of Education senior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She will graduate in the Spring of 2023.

Which class are you interning in at Sessums Elementary?

I am interning in the fifth grade English Language Arts (ELA) classroom taught by Christen Henrichs. 

What are your favorite things about interning at Sessums Elementary?

I love being a part of the school community here at Sessums. The students are full of life and keep me going on my most challenging days. I strive to be my best at Sessums as an intern. 

How does it feel to return as a teacher when you were a student at Sessums Elementary?

I am surrounded by the teachers where I started my education. It is the best feeling. I am grateful and  inspired each day to be at an incredible school in a community that is home to me. It is an unique experience to leave as a student and return as a teacher a decade later. I have been given the opportunity to meet new teachers while calling my former teachers my colleagues. It feels like I never left!

What do you enjoy most about teaching? 

Teaching makes me feel that I am on the right path in life. I enjoy getting to know my kids as people before getting to know their needs as students. Each day I walk into school, I want to make a difference and it puts a smile on my face! I truly believe teaching is what I was meant to do. One of my favorite moments is when my students can't stop asking questions or making connections during our conversations. I will never tire of my students’ hugs, high-fives and good mornings. I love when I can teach students how to be goal-setters and achieve what they think is impossible. I teach to help my students understand how they can make a difference in the world. 

How has the USF College of Education prepared you to be a teacher?

The USF College of Education has prepared me to commit to my lifelong learning philosophy. By having two years of clinical experience, I was able to understand what a day in the life of a teacher looks like, which is something a textbook cannot begin to cover. I am ready to start my career in teaching. I could not have progressed to where I am today without the tremendous support provided by USF and the College of Education team. I learned from the best, an alliance of supervisors and mentor teachers.

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About the USF College of Education:

As the home for more than 2,200 students and 130 faculty members across three campuses, the University of South Florida College of Education offers state-of-the-art teacher training and collegial graduate studies designed to empower educational leaders. Our college is nationally accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), and our educator preparation programs are fully approved by the Florida Department of Education.