What children learn in elementary school helps chart their future educational success. So, when elementary school teachers offer lessons in the ABCs, they are providing the building blocks to reading and so much more.
Earning a teaching degree can help you make a difference in the lives of scores of children over the course of your career. And with Walden University’s online BS in Elementary Education (Teacher Licensure) degree program, you can become a teacher while still working and enjoying time with friends and family.
We recently caught up with Oslande Louis and Cheyenne Weight, Walden students who are preparing to graduate with BSEE degrees. They were eager to share their insights gleaned through earning an online education degree.
WALDEN: Congratulations to you both on earning your elementary education degrees! Why did you select Walden as your online teaching degree partner?
WEIGHT: The idea of traditional college was always overwhelming for me and discouraged me from attending. When I discovered Walden University, I discovered that I could attend college because I could do it on my own terms and be supported in the way I felt I needed to be supported. Had I known about Walden University and the programs they provide, I would have attended college when my fellow high school graduation classmates did. I hope that students in their senior year of high school learn that there are plenty of options out there for them to succeed.
WALDEN: Teachers at all levels have the potential to instill in students a love of lifelong learning. Through your journey to become a teacher, is there a faculty member who made a difference in your life?
LOUIS: Dr. Judy Boyd always went over and beyond for each of her students so that we could reach our fullest potential. If I required extra instructions or more examples, she would always display warmth and compassion as she relayed the information. She never made me or the other students feel as if we were bothering her. Dr. Boyd was always supportive when I felt overwhelmed, especially throughout the COVID-19 pandemic when she would give me positive words of encouragement. … She always expressed her kindness and support whenever it was applicable and never thought for a minute that her students would fail. I think that if there were more educators in the world like Dr. Boyd, there would be more students willing to learn and more lives would be impacted for the better. I will always be grateful to her!
WALDEN: Oslande, you mentioned the coronavirus disease outbreak. It has changed our lives in so many ways. Did it impact your journey toward earning a BS in Elementary Education?
LOUIS: When COVID-19 begin to spread and schools were shutting down, I began to fear that my progress would be delayed. Nonetheless, program director Dr. Stacy Ness and my demonstration teaching coordinator Dr. Brandy O’Leary found a way to adjust demonstration teaching for the first time and set something new in place that would satisfy the requirements necessary for the curriculum and also those that were addressed by the board of education. Dr. O’Leary worked very hard as she designed the rigorous alternative assignments as they prepared us to work even harder and complete each assignment with more focus and confidence as the weeks passed. Dr. Ness graciously allowed me to teach her daughter when I had no students to teach for the curriculum and even worked hard as she presented her case regarding our assessments, and was able to make it work in our favor.
WALDEN: In earning a BS in Elementary Education online, you became experts in using Walden’s learning platform. What was that experience like for you?
WEIGHT: Walden’s Blackboard is such an easy online learning platform, and one that is not overwhelming.
WALDEN: As you earned an education degree while balancing work and family responsibilities, what helped you push through any tough times?
LOUIS: As a full-time student and full-time worker, my journey in the BSEE curriculum has been a very interesting yet challenging experience that I will never forget or take for granted. Throughout my three years in pursuing my degree, I have faced many trials and tribulations that would cause most individuals to give up. But with the supportive staff at Walden University and a goal set in mind, I remained focused and persisted on getting the job done. The educators I had throughout the years worked with me and the rest of the student body, spending endless hours regardless of how late it was or the amount of energy it consumed in completing an assignment. Even after the classes ended, the faculty members always expressed that although they are no longer our current professors, they were always an email or phone call away if we ever needed them in the future. So, I can testify that Walden faculty members do mean what they say because I have kept in contact with a few of my professors.
WALDEN: What inspiration would you have for other adult professionals who are thinking about earning a BS in Elementary Education online?
WEIGHT: Researching the top online bachelor’s programs and finding Walden University has changed my life forever. I NEVER thought I’d make it, and I am so PROUD I finally did something for me and that I overcame my fears and obtained a milestone as an adult. It’s never too late.
LOUIS: The staff at Walden University works hard in supporting their students so that their students can rightfully earn their degrees. I can proudly say that I will graduate as an honor society and National Society of Leadership and Success alumni because of the support system that was provided during my enrollment. I think that if anyone is serious about putting in the hard work and reaping the benefits, Walden University is an ideal school to consider. I will always remember Walden University and those that helped me on this journey because you all made my dreams come true!
Build a Career With an Online Teaching Degree
Walden’s Richard W. Riley College of Education and Human Sciences is a Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)-accredited college, dedicated to enhancing educator effectiveness. In Walden’s bachelor’s degree program, you’ll prepare for initial licensure, guided by dedicated teacher educators and curriculum aligned with licensure requirements. As a BS in Elementary Education online degree candidate, you’ll review test preparation materials to help get you ready for the licensure exams needed for teacher certification.
You’ll learn teaching strategies proven to help students in K–12 build confidence and excel in today’s diverse classroom environments. And you’ll join a community of leaders—65,000 education students and alumni, including more than 150 state teachers of the year—and share ideas with a community of your peers from across the United States. And when you’re ready, Walden offers master’s and doctoral degree programs that can help further enhance your skills and advance your career.
With a BS in Elementary Education, you can prepare to become a preschool or kindergarten teacher, or find your niche in elementary or middle school. Choose an online teaching job in elementary education or secure your spot in a brick-and-mortar classroom. With an online teaching degree, you can help spark a bright future for the students whose minds you touch throughout a long, satisfying career as a certified teacher.
Walden University is an accredited institution offering a BS in Elementary Education (Teacher Licensure) degree program online. Expand your career options and earn your degree in a convenient, flexible format that fits your busy life.
Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, www.hlcommission.org.
The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Human Sciences is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) for a period of seven years, from April 2019 through June 2026. This accreditation covers initial teacher preparation programs and advanced educator preparation programs. CAEP is the only recognized national accreditor for educator preparation, promoting excellence in educator preparation through quality assurance and continuous improvement. Walden University’s Riley College of Education and Human Sciences earned CAEP accreditation by meeting rigorous national standards and demonstrating excellence in the areas of content and pedagogy, clinical experiences, selectivity, program impact, and capacity for continuous improvement.
CAEP accreditation is based on a review of The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Human Science’s initial teacher preparation programs—the BS in Elementary Education and the Master of Arts in Teaching with a specialization in Special Education (K–Age 21)—and advanced educator preparation programs—the EdS in Educational Leadership and Administration and the MS in Education with a specialization in Educational Leadership and Administration. Three of these programs were reviewed by Specialized Professional Associations (SPAs), which define content-area standards for programs, and achieved national recognition: Master of Arts in Teaching with a specialization in Special Education (K–Age 21), EdS in Educational Leadership and Administration, and MS in Education with a specialization in Educational Leadership and Administration.