GSE Alum Helps Students Find Their Voice in the Classroom
Ashley Ellis was a shy student.
But a teacher helped her find her voice.
“When a teacher sat with me and got to know my interests, it made it easier to ask for help,” Ashley said. “Then I knew I wanted to be someone who teaches students how to advocate for themselves. Especially in the school setting, you must advocate for how you feel, like when something is too much, and be able to talk about your emotions and feelings.”
By the time she got to college, Ashley decided to advance her career with the Rutgers Graduate School of Education (GSE), leveraging its reputation for Advancing Excellence and Equity in Education, and enrolled in the Ed.M. with Certification in Elementary Education K-6 program.
She taught various subjects to fourth graders during her student teaching placement in the Rahway School District and was inspired by her cooperating teacher’s dedication to the students.
“My cooperating teacher was so welcoming and always found a way to ensure that student needs were met,” Ashley said. “She had this energy that made you want to learn more, and I aim to embody that.”
Ashley, who graduated in 2024, now confidently runs her own fourth-grade classroom in the Rahway School District.
“At the GSE, I’ve made connections for my career and future,” Ashley said. “Without education, I probably wouldn’t be where I am today. The GSE has taught me how powerful education is and can be.”
Ashley’s teaching philosophy centers on flexibility and adapting to diverse learning styles.
“In one classroom, you can have 22 students with 22 different needs. When you have a one-on-one session and tailor the explanation to match their learning style, that’s when concepts seem to click for them,” Ashley said.
Recognized for her hard work and dedication, she became one of three nominees representing the GSE for the 2024 New Jersey Distinguished Clinical Intern Award which celebrates outstanding achievement during student teaching placement.
“It was an honor to be nominated,” Ashley said. “The comfort I’ve found in my environment and the relationships I’ve built with students, colleagues, and friends demonstrates the progress I’ve made since my first day in the classroom until May 2024. This nomination reflects that.”
Ashley said she looks forward to returning to Rahway this upcoming year where she will teach in the same classroom that invigorated her calling to be a teacher.
“The students are what define your job, and they make you love it, because ultimately, as a teacher, it’s all about them,” she said. “I’m not just teaching them; they are teaching me, too. I’m not just inspiring them; they are inspiring me, too.”