BW biology grad fulfills passion with one-year master's degree in science teaching

Nicolette Kunath '20 discovered a hidden passion after taking a job training new employees with the Cleveland Indians.

"I loved seeing the people I trained grow into their positions and succeed, and I knew that I needed to take a leap of faith into the career path towards being an educator," she says.

With a bachelor's degree in biology from BW, Kunath turned back to her alma mater to make the pivot into teaching, entering BW's MAEd in science teaching program.

Respected and connected program

"I chose BW not only because the program immediately submerged you into the life of an educator, but … [because] I had no concerns about the endless opportunities I would have with schools in the area, as BW is known for their education program throughout Ohio."

Kunath was right about opportunities and strong demand for math and science teachers in the area. After graduating a second time from BW with a master's degree in science teaching in 2020, she is now employed as a science teacher at Brooklyn High School.

Immediate, real-world experience

She says the BW program prepared her to hit the ground running with an immersive, accelerated experience.

"The best part about this program is the immediate pairing and mentoring you gain with an educator currently in the field. You are paired for the year, and the benefit of this is that you get to see what teachers actually do to prepare for the school year, including the weeks before kids enter the building," she explains.

Kunuth's mentor, Jessica Jones at Olmsted Falls High School, encouraged her to attend every meeting and staff outing over the 2019-2020 school year and gave her room to try new things and to learn from her mistakes.

Accelerated path to the classroom

Kunuth also appreciates that the BW program respected and built on the work she had already put into her bachelor's degree.

"I knew that I wanted a condensed program where I was able to get the training and education I needed, but I also did not want to have to go back to school for another four years," Kunuth says. "This program allowed me to pursue my passion by joining the professional field of teaching in a little more than a year (after a lot of hard work!).

In spite of all that hard work, Kunuth believes anyone with the desire to teach science or math should not hesitate to follow in her footsteps.

"In the end," she says. "I promise you; it is worth every second!"

Success stats and information

The program has notched a 100% passage rate on the licensure exam and a 100% employment rate for students who have completed this program over the last three years.

The next one-year MAEd in Math/Science Teaching program at BW starts in May 2021, with an accelerated admission process for BW students.

Visit the MAEd in Science Teaching or MAED in Mathematics Teaching admission pages to learn more or contact Kirsten Bramley, admission counselor, at kbramley@bw.edu or 440-826-8005.