Each year, faculty in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) come together to select an outstanding student in their program to receive the honor of being named as their program award winner. Students selected for this award embody the very best of their program: they excel in their studies; they demonstrate leadership in classes and internships; and they have a genuine and tenacious passion for their discipline.
The College of Education and Human Development faculty in Secondary Education have chosen
Sara Brown
as the
2021 Outstanding Student in Secondary Education – English
Q & A with Outstanding Student in Secondary Education – English, Sara Brown:
What part of your Mason experience are you most proud of?
I am very proud of the community each of us helped create within our Secondary Education (SEED) cohort. We established a family in our night classes, one that we could lean on and support each other throughout the process of becoming a teacher. I’m proud of my work and my academic accomplishments, but the relationships I gained I’ll never forget.
What are your future plans, goals, and dreams?
I am living the dream! I’m an English teacher a middle school, I love my job and I plan to keep teaching and learning and loving my kids.
What is your favorite memory from your time in the College of Education and Human Development?
My absolute favorite was our Methods I class with Dr. Zenkov. Dr. Zenkov read Seedfolks to us every night, it was a bonding and peaceful moment in my day I looked forward to every time. I now read Seedfolks to my own kids in 8th grade.
What advice do you have for fellow CEHD students?
Absorb everything you can and embrace not knowing everything. Don’t panic about having it all right, it never will be. Take the time in your grad experience to experiment, challenge yourself, and figure out what works and doesn’t work for you.
Would you like to give any shout-outs to those who supported you along the way?
Dr. Zenkov, Dr. Dippold and Dr. Green, and of course my family, partner and best friend. All of these people were such fantastic sources of support, kindness and generosity. I could not have gotten to the finish line without them!