Sarah Merchlewitz graduated from CSP Global with an M.A.Ed. in Differentiated Instruction and currently works as a third-grade teacher at an elementary school in Minnesota. With a decade in education, we asked Sarah to tell us about her experience obtaining her master’s at CSP Global.
Why did you want to work in education? What inspired you?
Growing up, teaching was the only thing I could imagine myself doing. Both of my parents taught, and the oldest memories I have include helping them set up their classrooms, cutting out laminated projects, and adding stickers to corrected work. As a child, that was what teaching was to me. Projects, laminating, and summers spent together as a family. I had incredible teachers throughout my career as a student that solidified my dreams of teaching.
Why did you choose CSP for your M.A. Ed. in Differentiated Instruction?
After being in the classroom for ten years, I now know that teaching is much more than laminating, bulletin boards, and summers off (because we all know we keep busy with our trade). I knew I wanted to get my masters, so I waited to find a program that would be immediately applicable in the classroom and would add to my resume for my future goals as an educator.
It seemed that most schools offered partial online classes, or if they were fully online, the programs were not what I wanted. One day, we had bright pink paper in our mailboxes at school. It was an advertisement for CSP Global’s graduate courses. One of the programs offered was Differentiated Instruction (DI). I had yet to see this program (or one like it) offered at any other schools. Not only was the program full of inclusive teaching strategies, but the pace of the program fit my needs.
What skills did you gain or sharpen through your program at CSP and how do you use them today?
CSP Global offers a cohort program for graduate students that allows you to be with the same professionals throughout the two-year program. This was an incredible benefit because our cohort became close; we felt comfortable sharing and being vulnerable. We could rely on each other as the courses and professors changed.
Not only did my cohort overcome the difficult tasks of graduate work, but we overcame them during the COVID pandemic. Our entire teaching platform turned upside down outside of our graduate work. Together with our professors, we created relevant, beneficial, and effective work that we could immediately apply or practice with our students. The courses throughout the program were challenging yet realistic, applicable, and innovative.
What we learned as teachers we could also apply as students. We learned throughout the coursework that change is hard, but there are always ways we can try something new, reflect, and continue improving our art of teaching. Our world is not the same as it was centuries ago, yet our school system still looks the same in some places.
With this program, we challenged the norm in ways that made us all better teachers. I became more flexible with my teaching approaches and have been so much more creative in ways to meet the standards. My relationships with students have been strengthened with interest-based projects and by creating new ways for students to show what they know other than traditional practices.
How has your M.A. Ed. in Differentiated Instruction impacted you in terms of your current position or a position you’d like to attain in the future?
With this degree I have been able to present ideas to my district, guide PLCs with professional development to try new strategies, and most recently, accepted a new job as an enrichment coordinator. Ultimately, my capstone project ignited my passion for standards-based grading. I have been able to push forward and practice ways to implement SBG while continuing my research beyond my capstone.
My career goals include undergraduate and graduate instruction, instructional coaching, and becoming a professional development specialist for inclusion and differentiation strategies. This program allowed me to see the benefits of differentiation within the classroom and I would love to be able to share the knowledge I have obtained from CSP Global. No child is the same, so we cannot expect them to learn the same.
What was a challenge you faced during your M.A. Ed. in Differentiated Instruction, and who or what helped you overcome it?
As I mentioned earlier, my graduate experience happened during the pandemic. Not only was the massive pivot in the classroom extremely difficult and filled with unknowns, I questioned whether or not our program would be able to continue. Luckily, the program at CSP was completely online. This not only allowed our cohort to continue, but it helped me to be familiar with online platforms as I had to make the adjustment with third graders.
This was an enormous, unforeseen challenge and every professor was filled with compassion. Expectations were still high and regardless of the pandemic great work was still done. Because of the cohort format, we were able to be honest with each other and created a strong support system of teachers.
What would you tell (or what advice would you give) prospective students considering a M.A. Ed. in Differentiated Instruction at CSP?
Graduate work is possible while working a full-time job and raising a family during a global pandemic. If I learned anything during the DI program at CSP Global, it would be starting small, but starting somewhere is the most important thing to do. If you try to change everything at once, not only will you be exhausted, but reflection is crucial, so find your comfort level and grow your confidence. This advice applies to my fellow teachers, students, family, and any change that is necessary.
After I graduated and the next starting semester approached, I took the same sheet of pink paper out of my mailbox, wrote a love note about CSP, and hung it on the fridge of our teacher’s lunchroom. I would be lying if I said I didn’t consider choosing another program to get a second masters.
The courses were incredibly thoughtful, relevant, and applicable. The professors were amazingly compassionate, driven, and motivating. One of our professors was even working on his doctorate while we were in session and graduated the same spring our cohort did. As I continue growing as a professional, CSP Global is the only school I would consider for any additional further education degrees.