Haley Wildhirt

What made you want to continue your education at Lewis & Clark for graduate school?

I took two education classes as an undergraduate that I loved. I felt that even at the undergraduate level, they provided me with a real understanding of what it’s like working an education, along with a lot of social justice background. I wanted to pursue a master’s degree with people who had a similar passion for social justice in education, and who would give me tools to support all of my students in the multitude of their identities. I also love Portland and want to stay here, so it made sense to get a degree at a place I already knew and trusted.

What have you been doing since graduation?

I got a job as a 5th grade teacher in Centennial School District the fall after graduating from GSEC. I am starting my second year in the same school, and I love it! I also work part-time as an intimacy coordinator for various theatre productions, both at L&C and independent of it.

How did Lewis & Clark prepare you for your career? How does your social justice education apply?

Lewis & Clark prepared me by giving me real work experience before I graduated. My time as a student teacher spanned a whole academic year, and I received more responsibilities as the year went on, culminating in me being a full-time teacher in that classroom. The classroom I student taught in was very similar demographically to the class I currently teach. I dealt with many similarly tricky situations as a student teacher that I deal with now as a real teacher. For example, every year I’ve taught, I’ve had to deal with students using racial slurs. I have felt comfortable addressing it each year because of the instruction I received as a student, as well as the support I received from professors and mentors during my student teaching. In regards to social justice education, I am able to make sure that the materials I give to students are well-rounded in the perspectives they provide. When I’m preparing to teach a lesson, I’m able to use resources from my time in GSEC to make my curriculum more reflective of the identities of my students. I am a teacher who doesn’t shy away from difficult subjects; I make sure each of my students is prepared to thrive in the real world regardless of their identity or background.

What would you say is the most important thing you learned at Lewis & Clark?

I learned how to make my classroom a welcoming space for all students, both as a physical space and through the ways I teach and support students. I feel so proud when I see a student open up, relax, and enjoy learning because of the space I’ve created for them and with them.

How do you stay connected to Lewis & Clark as an alum?

Since my partner and I are both alumni of the theatre department, we often go back to see the shows that L&C is putting on. I also stay in contact with a handful of my L&C professors, both from the undergraduate and graduate campuses, and get coffee and ask for advice every so often.

What did you like or find most interesting about your program?

There were two things that I was most interested in in my program. First was the social justice focus. I appreciated that it was a theme throughout all of my classes, whether we were learning how to teach a specific subject, or learning about child development and classroom management. The second thing that interested me was learning to teach math, which was a complete surprise for me. I didn’t expect to enjoy teaching math because I had hated learning it as a student. However, thanks to Associate Professor Linda Griffin, I absolutely fell in love with the subject. She taught us the WHY of so many different math concepts, which was never taught to me when I was actually in school. She also had an abundance of creative ideas for engaging students in math. It is now where I excel most as a teacher and feel the most able to excite students about learning.

What was your favorite grad class? How did it expand your knowledge?

It is so hard to pick just one class … I think mine are a tie between Classroom Management with Assistant Professor Teri Tilley and all of the math classes taught by Linda Griffin. Teri was (and still is) an immense support when I encountered difficulties in my classroom. Her techniques and advice made me a significantly more competent first year teacher. I had control of my classroom the majority of the time without having to become a scary, super strict authority figure. She also is just immensely kind and understanding. As for Linda, as I said above, she turned me into a math lover, which I never thought was possible.

What did you like most about the cohort model in your program? What unique perspective did you bring to your cohort?

I liked that I moved through all of my classes with the same group of people. We got to know each other extremely well, and because of that, we could support one another as we dealt with the trials and tribulations of being a student teacher. I brought a unique perspective to my cohort as the only non-binary educator in our group. At first, it was difficult navigating how I fit into a career that often has very gendered terms associated with it (teachers generally being referred to as Ms/Mrs/Mr, when none of those fit me… I now go by Teacher Haley). I was lucky to have a cohort that was open to listening to my thoughts about the intersection of queerness and teaching, and who supported me when I encountered difficulties.

Who was your mentor on campus? Why did you consider this person your mentor?

Teri Tilley was definitely my mentor on campus, and still is a mentor for me. She is always a wonderful mix of pragmatic, optimistic, and caring. She admits when things are difficult or unreasonable, but she supports you through it and maintains the belief that better is possible. Whenever she visited my classroom I was student teaching in, she found so many specific things to praise, as well as specific actions to work on. As a student, I would get coffee with her when I encountered a particularly challenging situation. I recently got coffee with her again, even though I’ve been out of grad school for over a year. Even though Teri has been my primary mentor, I know that I could reach out to any of the professors at L&C and receive support and advice without question.

What was your favorite spot on campus?

I loved working in the weird, musty study rooms in Corbett House. They are so cozy and they transport you back in time. It’s easy to romanticize grad school when you’re studying in a century-old mansion in the middle of a forest with rain pelting the windows. It made completing the edTPA slightly less agonizing, at least.

What is your favorite thing about living in Portland?

I love that I can access such a myriad of different environments, all within a short distance from my home. I can drive two hours one direction and meet the coast, or drive an hour and a half another direction and hit Mount Hood. I can go to a cute independent coffee shop in a quaint neighborhood, or wander a bustling downtown street. No matter my mood, there is a place in Portland that matches it.

Elementary Education