History repeats itself
Emma knew that graduating with a degree in history and secondary education—and landing a job as a special education resource teacher—didn’t mean she was ready to stop learning from her Northwestern professors. Impressed with their academic rigor, personal integrity and professionalism, Emma resumed her Raider status, pursuing her instructional strategist endorsement through Northwestern’s online graduate program. Each school day, Emma brings a well-rounded worldview to her high school history classroom as she supports students with disabilities.What are some of your responsibilities?
As the instructional specialist in a freshman American history class, I ensure that students with disabilities are accommodated and their academic and behavioral goals are being met. I also work with general education students in the same classroom—and with my background in history, it is very easy for me to support them in accessing the content.
What are the most satisfying aspects of your career?
Connecting with students and pushing them to succeed. History has always been my favorite subject, and I get to teach it and use my knowledge to help students with disabilities.
What led you to decide to pursue a career teaching history?
History explains our current context and offers solutions for the future. I am a justice-oriented person; to understand the current inequities in the world and how to fix them, I have to know the past.
What are the strengths of NWC’s history major?
The faculty have diverse expertise and work to stay current on academic discussions in their fields. They know how to teach and communicate their knowledge effectively—I have seen how they have fought for me and others to succeed and thrive at Northwestern. The classroom sizes allow for open conversations and collaboration with other students in your major.
What are some of your favorite memories from your time at Northwestern?
Some of my favorite memories at Northwestern involve academic conversations I had with my peers and professors. These conversations would happen in the classroom, cafeteria, church, library or in a local café.