In May, the college graduated its third cohort of students with a Master’s in Education (M.Ed.) with licensure in Special Education. Within three months, 100% of the class was employed in the area of their expertise. Three graduates are working in general classrooms while three others are working as special educators in a range of grades from kindergarten to sixth.
“We are excited to see what this talented group of graduate students go on to achieve,” says Professor Laura Wasielewski, Ph.D., director of the Undergraduate Teacher Education Programs and the Graduate Program in Special Education.
“Their hard work, dedication, and passion have brought them to this pivotal moment, and we can't wait to see how they will apply their skills and knowledge in their future endeavors. We are confident that they will continue to excel and make significant contributions in their careers.”
Saint Anselm College’s M.Ed. Program offers students multiple pathways to build their expertise and knowledge in special education. Courses prepare educators to better support the needs of all students in the classroom.
Cassidy Manti ’23, M ’24 knew she wanted to be a general classroom teacher but chose to earn her master’s in special education in order to better support all the learners in her classroom. She’s excited to take her knowledge and experience to Hollis, N.H., where she’ll be teaching second grade.
Manti earned her degree in one year through the M.Ed.’s Fellowship Program, where she supported students at Clarkes-Wilkins Elementary School in Amherst, N.H., while taking classes at night and during the summer. In addition to her free master’s degree, she said the program gave her a lot of flexibility and tailored her experience.
Graduate Cody Face ’20, M ‘24 has been hired as a grade six case manager in Tyngsboro, Mass. He also completed the Fellowship Program, but at the middle school level, working in the sixth grade at Parkside Middle School in Manchester.
Unlike Manti, Face was more interested in working as a special educator after graduation. A history and secondary ed major during his undergraduate experience, he noticed there was a lot of special education happening behind the scenes.
“When I was studying general education, my philosophy was that I wanted to build a rapport with students. I wanted to develop a relationship with them, to show them that I was on the same team, to get to know them and work with the student,” said Face.
“Special education provided me with a new pathway to interact with students, and help me build rapport. It allows me to access them as learners and give them a comfort level to interact with me. I always want to work to get to know them.”
Face wasn’t alone working at Parkside, he was joined by Therese Lemerise ’20, M ’24 who was working full-time teaching fifth grade math and science. Professor Wasielewski developed a plan that worked for Lemerise’s schedule, eventually completing the graduate program part-time over the course of two years. In addition to her classroom teaching, Lemerise is also a special education teacher for Parkside’s extended school year program.
Pathways
The college’s master’s program in education offers several pathways for those interested in special education.
Those who already have a license to teach and a bachelor’s in education may consider the Fellowship Program which provides students with a free master’s degree in exchange for their work in a district. Fellows earn their M.Ed. with licensure in special education through their full-time course work. The program works with prospective students on their interests for grade-level and school district. Students may also attend part-time working with Professor Wasielewski on a flexible study plan.
Additionally, there is an advanced option to only earn licensure in special education.
For those who are not yet licensed teachers, there is also an initial pathway to obtain a Master’s degree in Education with licensure in special education or only a license in special education.
Finally, courses may be taken for professional development/CEUs. Up to two courses count towards the M.Ed.
To learn more about the program or to talk through options and pathways, contact Professor Wasielewski. Potential students are not required to be Saint Anselm undergraduates.