Pam Loh graduated from the University of Saint Joseph with an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction and currently works as a high school TESOL teacher in Connecticut. With several years of experience in the classroom and with district-level curriculum implementation, she decided to pursue her master’s degree. We asked her to share with us her experience at the University of Saint Joseph.
Why did you want to work in education? What inspired you?
I never would have thought I’d become an educator. After volunteering at an elementary school in Springfield, Massachusetts in my freshman year, that all changed. A group of refugees from Somalia had arrived, and although most were adjusting well, one kindergartner was not. He wouldn’t speak or follow directions. He would actually hide under a table or in a closet. I felt a calling to help him, and after a day of looking at picture books, we found a word we both knew: zebra. He smiled, repeated the word, and I knew he would be okay. That was the day I changed my major from physical therapy to education.
Why did you choose the University of Saint Joseph for your master’s degree in curriculum and instruction?
I put off my master’s degree for years, as I was adjusting to a new state and married life. I kept telling myself I’d get to it eventually. Then, I received an email from the University of Saint Joseph indicating they assisted educators with their master’s degree at a reduced rate. This was especially appealing as I was drowning in debt from my undergraduate degree. When I saw the programs available at the off-campus sites, I knew that curriculum and instruction would be my choice as I participated quite a bit at the district-level writing and modifying curriculum for ESL students. I felt it was a natural transition to go from implementing curriculum to writing culturally relevant curriculum.
What skills did you gain or sharpen through your program at the University of Saint Joseph, and how do you use them today?
While participating in the master’s program, I was able to practice my presentation skills within the classroom, as we would frequently share our findings with peers in formal PowerPoints or other platforms. We would also collaborate in teams for our projects, so it was important to be a leader, as well as a contributor and listener. We thought critically as we determined research topics that were relevant to our fields of expertise, as well as to our colleague’s interests. As well as I communicated prior to this experience, I feel my ability to communicate has improved greatly in a professional capacity.
How has your master’s degree impacted you in terms of your current position or a position you’d like to attain in the future?
Obtaining my master’s degree in curriculum and instruction has led me to use a different lens when planning lessons, as well as dissecting the purpose of assessment. I’ve become more critical of how I assess students, as well as how I use that data in my classroom. I have also changed my future goals to include writing curriculum at the district level and started to prepare for this by working with an online language acquisition company to write curriculum for their platform. Ultimately, I feel my opportunities are much more diverse now that I have this degree and experience from Saint Joseph.
What was a challenge you faced during your curriculum and instruction program, and who or what helped you overcome it?
I think the biggest challenge anyone faces while taking college courses and working a full-time job is time management. I also have two young children, and juggling their activities as well as my priorities for class and work was a struggle at times. However, I had an amazing support system in my husband, as well as meeting with fellow classmates outside of class in order to help each other focus and plan projects. There was an “eye on the prize” mentality when it came to completing this program, and having strong supporters both at home and class was essential to my achievement.
What was the biggest takeaway from your master’s program?
Upon completing the program, I feel the biggest takeaway was the relationships that were built within the classroom itself. Our cohort had a very special bond. We looked out for each other, especially when it came to success. There was no presence of competition, but rather a group mentality of pride and achievement. We held each other accountable for the work we were doing, and asked the hard questions to really think critically about what we were learning and its application to our careers and students. We trusted each other enough to ask for advice, to own up to our shortcomings, and to learn from one another’s experiences.
What would you tell (or what advice would you give) prospective students considering the curriculum and instruction M.A. program at the University of Saint Joseph?
Students who are considering pursuing the curriculum and instruction M.A. program at the University of Saint Joseph should understand that although the workload will be intense, they are not alone. Between the supportive staff who were available throughout the week and your classmates, a question never went unanswered. The University did a fantastic job devising a curriculum for this degree that focused on teamwork, because in the educational setting we hardly ever work alone. Creating a curriculum takes a team of people and voices, and that’s exactly what you’ll learn to incorporate while enrolled in this program.