Elementary Education

Mick Morgan

Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (emphasis in Mathematics and History), 2010

Those Who Care, Teach

As society has become more complex, so too has the profession of teaching. Today, in addition to conveying relevant content and skills, teachers are often called upon to serve as counselors, child advocates, mentors and more. For College of Education alum, Mick Morgan ‘11, he is all of those things to his students. Morgan, who is in his 10th year of teaching, is currently a 4th-grade math teacher at Jefferson Elementary School in the Pocatello/Chubbuck School District #25. 

As a child, Morgan struggled with math in school. However, over time he developed an interest in and aptitude for the subject. Today, he uses his past experiences to connect and support students who struggle learning the subject. Morgan received his Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with an emphasis in mathematics and history from Idaho State’s College of Education in 2011. “I really enjoyed the professors and all of the classroom exposure we received in the program. I wish I could go back to Dr. Sanger’s class learning about the philosophy and foundational pieces of education - those were, and still are so important,” said Morgan. In reflecting on his interactions with faculty and staff in the College of Education, Morgan noted, “they gave me and my classmates the tools we needed to go out and become successful educators;  knowing they had our backs and believed in us helped us feel prepared for our careers.” 

Morgan’s advice for future educators is to “make sure you go into the profession for the right reasons. Educating our kids is not an easy task. Being an educator is demanding! But you can do it and you can make the difference in kids' lives.” He adds, “We need you! I want to continue to see new, talented people coming into the profession. Become a teacher and make a difference in our society.” 

In spite of his demanding job as an elementary school teacher, Morgan is still learning alongside College of Education faculty and contributing to the field of mathematics education beyond the walls of his classroom. Recently, Morgan co-authored an article with Dr. Cory Bennett entitled, Developing Norms with Silent Discussions in the National Council of Mathematics Teachers journal, Mathematics Teacher: Learning and Teaching PK-12. Morgan says, “Dr. Bennett has been such a valuable mentor for me. His guidance has helped me become a better teacher. I’m very appreciative of the opportunities I have had.” Morgan and Dr. Bennett will be presenting their work at the NCTM Annual Conference on April 23, 2021. 

Morgan’s mentor, Dr. Cory Bennett says, “Mick is hands down one of the most reflective educators I have ever met. His attention to the nuanced details of his practice has helped him quickly grow into a highly effective educator. I can recall countless times where he starts a conversation off with “I have one quick question for you” only to have it turn into a highly thought provoking and insightful discussion about teaching and learning. Because of these habits, and his willingness to take on new challenges, he has become a mentor for others and is one of my “go-to” teachers when I need help in thinking about supporting students.”

Carly O’Connor, Spring 2021

Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (emphasis in English)

Reflections (and some advice) on Teacher Education

For some people teaching is an aspiration, and for others it is a vocation. Carly O’Connor, B.S. ’21 falls squarely into that second category.

When Carly was 17, she began assisting her mother who was a preschool teacher in the Magic Valley and quickly fell in love with the kids and the work. At the same time Carly enrolled in the College of Southern Idaho to earn her Associate’s Degree with intentions of someday opening up her own daycare. While a student at CSI, Carly met with an ISU advisor on the Twin Falls campus to explore the possibility of pursuing a teaching endorsement.  

With the mentoring and guidance of the ISU Twin Falls faculty and staff, Carly was registered in her first Elementary Education course during the Fall 2019 semester and knew she found her calling. “I was lucky this all worked out. Being a CSI student first and having ISU on campus allowed me to have a smooth transition from community college to being an ISU student right here in Twin Falls,” said Carly. 

In her time as a College of Education student, Carly has had the opportunity to gain hands-on experiences in the classroom alongside veteran teachers, to volunteer in the community, to serve as a substitute teacher in the Twin Falls School District, and to assume the role of President of the Magic Valley Aspiring Educators club (MVAE). “Carly demonstrated a high commitment to teaching, learning, and leading from the very beginning of her time in our program,” said Dr. Eller, a Twin Falls TEP professor and the MVAE advisor. “She joined MVAE right away, encouraged other candidates to join, and ran for president at the end of her first semester to serve the 2020 term. Carly is one of those ‘natural’ teachers who immediately connects with students and mentor teachers; we are lucky to have her in our program and leading MVAE!”

“The way the program is structured, I was able to develop the classroom management skills I needed to feel prepared and confident in the classroom. I also learned to be more flexible and to go with the flow because my professors did a great job modeling what teaching is really like and how sometimes, we just have to roll with it.”

Carly has enjoyed her experience as a student in the elementary education program and urges teacher candidates to be proactive in their professional development. What is Carly’s best piece of advice for these future teachers? “Take your Praxis as early as you can!” Becoming a teacher can be a tough row to hoe. There are long days, and a lot to learn, but in the end, it is all worth it. Carly adds, “Enjoy the experience. Be a sponge and soak it all up from the moment you start. Absorb it and keep adding resources to your teacher toolkit.”

Carly is in her final year as a teacher candidate in the College of Education. She will begin her student teaching in Twin Falls spring 2021, and graduate soon after in May with a Bachelor’s of Science in Elementary Education and an emphasis in English. “The overwhelming support and dedication from my ISU faculty members and advisors have prepared me for my own classroom as well as the real world. I’m ready!”

Stephanie Moore

Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (emphasis in mathematics), 2015

Master of Education, Elementary Education, Mathematics coaching, 2019

Hometown Proud

Idaho State University is not just the hometown University for Pocatello native Stephanie Moore B.S. ‘15, M.Ed. ‘19, it is the place where she learned to learn, where she developed her passions, and where she became the educator she always wanted to be.

Moore was born and raised in Pocatello and was fortunate enough to attend ISU allowing her to stay close to her family and friends. Growing up, schoolwork always came easy to Moore so when she saw her classmates struggle, she didn’t know how to help them. It was in  ISU’s College of Education teacher preparation program that Moore finally learned to help others learn and to inspire struggling students in the classroom. “ISU and the CoE taught me how to keep that struggle productive in my classroom and how to help students through that struggle and on to success,” said Moore. 

Moore has been teaching in the Pocatello/Chubbuck School District #25 for five years and there she has learned the importance of networking and finding support from colleagues and other educators. Moore’s advice to new teachers is to “share resources, advice, and celebrate wins together, even the small ones! I’ve been very fortunate to have been able to collaborate with so many exceptional educators at ISU.” Moore’s favorite thing about teaching mathematics at Irving Middle School is seeing her students overcome their fear of math. Every year, Moore sets the same goal, “To get at least one student to like math, or at least dislike it a little less!” 

“Stephanie is the kind of teacher who takes on challenges with an intense passion; the harder the challenge, the more energized she becomes. In turn, this enthusiasm to try hard things and figure things out rubs off on others. She has a way of looking at a daunting project, saying “Ok. Let’s do this” and then getting others on board. Even though she is relatively new to the profession, her dedication and commitment to collectively make learning for students better is profound,” says Stephanie’s mentor, Dr. Cory Bennett.    

Moore believes that helping students make connections is a key to their academic success. “Students need to relate new knowledge to prior learning in order for them to gain a deeper understanding of the concept so they can remember and apply it in the future.” By making connections to past material and experiences, as well as having a positive relationship with students, Moore believes a teacher can make a lasting impact on her students. With Moore’s expertise in the classroom, she offers a piece of advice for incoming teachers, “Get to know your students and let them get to know you. Find connections you have with them and create a family in your classroom.”

Stephanie has been selected as the 2020 Outstanding Educator Award recipient for the College of Education’s Celebrating Excellence event. Stephanie will be honored in the spring during the event.