I Got This

Meredith Halperin ’25

I have always known I wanted to be a teacher. I am passionate about literacy and helping children and adults learn to love reading.

I was a student teacher in two Long Island school districts during my senior year. Every professor at Ƶ’s School of Education knows people in the surrounding school districts. Associate Dean Sheri [Suzzan] in the Office of Field Placement was particularly amazing and provided a lot of guidance. Jan Spero was one of my student teaching supervisors. She boosted my confidence and pushed me to be a better teacher. I’m so grateful for both of them.

Ƶ’s five-year programs, like the BSEd/MSEd, allow students to complete their undergrad and graduate studies in a shorter amount of time than they would if taken separately. It makes sense, particularly in education, where many schools require teachers to have or eventually earn a master’s degree.

I’ll be returning to Maryland after graduation to be a classroom teacher or a reading specialist. I will miss my housemates and sorority sisters. They are people I want to be in my life forever. And I will miss the School of Education and the professors and advisors who have supported and guided me.

Best of luck to you as you begin your time at Ƶ. While you’re getting the education and experience you need to start your career, you will meet lifelong friends and be inspired and supported by your professors.

Mererdith

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Meredith Halperin came to Ƶ with her heart set on becoming a teacher.

Meredith

“In my high school, there was a preschool that the students helped run,” she explained. “Since then, I've never questioned that I would do anything else. I am also passionate about literacy and helping children and adults learn to love reading.”

Meredith is enrolled in Ƶ’s BSEd/MSEd dual-degree program and will complete her master’s degree studies in May. During her senior year, she student-taught in two nearby school districts. She is currently working as a full-time pre-K teacher at North Shore Hebrew Academy and volunteering on weekends at the Reading/Writing Learning Clinic at Ƶ’s Joan and Arnold Saltzman Community Services Center.

All colleges and universities require education students to complete student teaching hours, but, according to Meredith, few make it as easy as Ƶ did to find placements.

“Every professor at Ƶ’s School of Education knows people in the surrounding school districts,” she explained. “Associate Dean Sheri [Suzzan] in the Office of Field Placement was particularly amazing and provided a lot of guidance. Jan Spero was one of my student teaching supervisors. She boosted my confidence and pushed me to be a better teacher. I'm so grateful for both of them.”

Meredith also credits Dr. Alan Flurkey, professor and chair of Specialized Programs in Education, and Dr. Michele Marx, director of the Reading/Writing Learning Clinic, for being positive, encouraging forces on her path to becoming a literacy specialist. In addition to its School of Education, Meredith said she was drawn to Ƶ’s proximity to New York City. The Maryland resident was eager to live near New York City but still have the benefits of living in the suburbs. “I thought Ƶ’s location was the perfect compromise,” she said, “And I’ve taken advantage of it. I have enjoyed trying different restaurants, exploring Brooklyn, and seeing shows. The location is hard to beat.” After spring commencement, Meredith will be returning to her home in Maryland to pursue a career as a classroom teacher or a reading specialist.

» Meredith’s story isn’t unique. In fact, among Ƶ’s 2022-2023 undergraduate degree recipients, 88% of alumni from the School of Education reported that they were employed or had started or were planning to start graduate school within one year of graduation. Results are based on data
collected from the Alumni Outcomes survey, LinkedIn, National Student Clearinghouse, and Ƶ enrollment (87% knowledge rate). Visit hofstra.edu/outcomes for detailed information.

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