By Hazel Denother

As a nation, our supply of qualified teachers is dwindling. The education industry suffers from high attrition rates and low enrollment in teacher preparation programs: teacher education enrollment dropped by 35% between 2009 and 2014, and the number of people studying to become teachers continues to diminish. Now more than ever, it is important to have qualified, passionate professionals entering the field.

Lindenwood is committed to preparing successful future teachers ready to take on the workforce. Sara Schomburg is a recent example. She studied Spanish and Education at the university while raising two young children at home, and she graduated in May of 2019. She received multiple full-time and part-time teaching job offers immediately upon graduation, and she currently works as an elementary Spanish teacher at Mallinckrodt Academy of Gifted Instruction in Saint Louis.

Schomburg states that she was inspired to study Spanish because of the native speakers she befriended at her first job in high school. Through that experience, she gained a greater admiration for the language. She states, “There’s not much that I don’t like about Spanish. The music, history, and culture are areas that I’ve always enjoyed learning and teaching about. Of course I also love speaking the language so that I can meet and help new people, as well as gain a broader perspective on life.”

Teachers are incredibly important, and their work in the classroom impacts the future of our society. Schomburg aims to help students grow into the best versions of themselves: “It feels phenomenal to help the kids become confident, helpful, positive people who will cause that rippling effect in society. This is why teachers are so important, because not every student gets all of that at home. We aren’t just teachers for our students: we are also counselors, nurses, custodians, coaches, moms, and everything in between for these kids. The positive effect that teachers have on society is incalculable.”

Schomburg is grateful for the guidance and support she received from the faculty at Lindenwood. Going to school while raising children is no easy task, and she credits two of her favorite professors, Dr. Romero-Ghiretti and Dr. Nuñez-Betelu (Spanish professors in the School of Humanities), for her success: “Since I had 2 children of my own, attending and keeping up with classes was a bit more of a struggle for me compared to students with a traditional academic career. These professors have both been a tremendous support in helping me overcome obstacles created by my having children while in school.” Schomburg adds that their Spanish instruction also helped give her a deeper appreciation for the history and cultures of Spanish-speaking countries.

Her education instructors made sure she had the tools she needed for teaching success through highly relevant coursework. She explains, “I love the fact that all of the education professors are up-to-date and active in the education community, and they really only give you assignments or projects that directly correlate to the real-world experience of teaching.” Schomburg feels that all of her education professors made her confident and prepared for her teaching career, and she is especially grateful for the help of Dr. Amanda Aldridge (School of Education) and her mentor, student teacher supervisor Lynne Chrismer.

Good teachers like Sara Schomburg are essential and help make the community a better place. Lindenwood University helps aspiring teachers hone their skills and become the very best professionals they can be. Through innovative instruction, the university strives to fill the world with kind, passionate, highly-qualified educators.