Taylor Waddleton

Name: Taylor Waddleton
Program (Degree and Major): BA in Family Science and Human Development; MA in K-6 and Teacher Certification of Students with Disabilities
Graduation Date/Expected Graduation Date: May 2022 (Undergraduate) and May 2023 (Graduate)

Please tell us about your plans post-graduation.

My post-graduate plans are to attend graduate school from the Summer of 2022 to May 2023. I am currently in Combined BA/M.A.T. with Teacher Certification in Grades K- 6 and Teacher of Students with Disabilities. After that, I plan to work in New Jersey in an Elementary School which works directly with students with disabilities in a general education setting.

What were the best parts of your program?

The best part of the program was when classes went virtually. Most of the students may not agree with me on this but I believe that it grew a stronger connection between the students and the teachers because we were all going through the same struggles. When I finally met my classmates in my major in person, it was a smooth transition since I already met them through the online school.

What was your favorite class or experience in the program, and why was that so important to you?

My favorite class was ECSE 305. This course was with Professor Pollitt. This was her second time teaching virtually and she did an amazing job of communicating and collaborating with her students. This class was from 8:15 to 10:45 at night which did not seem the most exciting when I first registered for the class. After a few weeks Professor Pollitt was able to build a one-on-one connection with me and each of her students through Zoom. I have never had a teacher who was there for me as a student and an individual. Professor Pollitt had assured me that my passion was for teaching and I can not be more thankful that I had the opportunity to meet her.

Why did you choose this field of study?  Why did you choose the program at Montclair State University?

I chose this study because I feel that everything I did in my free time always revolved around children. I coached swimming to children ages three through twelve when I was fifteen years old. Also at the age of fifteen, I participated in a camp program where students would attend on school scheduled breaks.  I always liked educating children on different things whether it be school-related or just giving them new information that they did not know before. I went to Montclair State University because it allowed me to stay close to home and give me an amazing opportunity to grow my passion for teaching. Montclair State has a teaching education program that is well known in the state of New Jersey and I wanted to be a part of that.

Is there anything else you’d like to share about your program, the College of Education & Human Services, or Montclair State University that we haven’t asked about?

I believe that the College of Education & Human Services provided professionals who allowed us to critically think about the career. The professors and human resources of the College of Education and Human Services allowed me to build connections that I will remember for the rest of my life. I am beyond grateful I attended Montclair State University because it allowed me to become a better individual and a better person.