Student Stories
Nallely Hernandez
"After graduating in 2016, I worked for Madison schools, before I decided to move to Seoul, South Korea. I have been living and teaching in South Korea for the past three years. Working with staff members here led me to enroll in the MSPE program, since it allows me to continue working in South Korea, while being able to continue my education in the hopes of working as an administrator."
Abby Trefilek
"I found the MSPE Program and loved it immediately because of the diverse course offerings and because it was an online, cohort style. I would not have to add any more hours to my commute, and I would still be able to collaborate and work with other educators around the country."
Scott Fischer
"As the department head for the World Language Department, my professional goals include becoming more knowledgeable about curriculum, development, and educational best practices, as well as an integral leader of our Building Leadership Team."
Hanna Wagner
"The most meaningful part of the program was completing it with a cohort. The relationships built, along with the reflective conversations had with fellow educators who have the same high hopes for the future of education, have been priceless."
"Prior to my time in the MSPE program I felt like my classroom was an island; I felt isolated and often frustrated. The MSPE program gave me the skills and confidence to connect student learning to the larger community and to find a community of practice for myself. The MSPE program helped me develop the skills to create a space for learning that centered curiosity, joy, and student choice. I've learned to lean on my community and that partnership with colleagues, parents, and community members is vital to keeping joy in education."
Rebecca Onken
Students Making a Difference
Keith Miller leads with healing as “village-builder” at Georgia nonprofit
“I wasn’t the ideal student,” begins Keith Miller’s essay in the online platform Medium. “I was either asleep in class or glaring at my teachers from across the room as I struggled to find the relevance in what they were teaching me.”
Onken wins Teacher Fellowship award from Herb Kohl Foundation
UW–Madison alumna Rebecca Onken, a 2023 graduate of the School of Education’s MS Educational Psychology: Professional Educators (MSPE) program, is a recipient of a Teacher Fellowship award from the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation.
