MyWay Gives Students Unique Route to Becoming a Teacher

HER PERSISTENCE PAID OFF

Becki admits the program was not easy, but she was determined to finish, and her hard work paid off. With her degree and certification, Becki is now a seventh- and eighth-grade girls’ athletic coach and sixth-grade math teacher at South Belton Middle School.

Becki says she signed up to start MyWay just as COVID-19 began ramping up in March 2020. Since all the schools closed and went to online learning, she ended up with a lot of free time that she put toward her studies.

“I knew I only had six months to get 21 classes completed,” she said. “With the support and help of my family, I was able to get it all done!”

When the schools reopened in the fall, and she had to return to work, she continued pushing through her classes.

“I was able to work on papers during my conference and lunch periods, and if my kids had a sporting event, I was usually seen in the stands doing homework or writ­ing papers.”

She said MyWay’s flexibility helped balance her hectic schedule. Her UMHB professors provided immediate feedback and never left her waiting, so she could edit pa­pers quickly and continuously progress through the work.

In December of that same year, Becki proudly walked across the graduation stage to receive the diploma she had started almost 25 years before. Her biggest cheerleaders—husband Benny and their two kids, Caden and Taylor—were in the stands cheering her on.

“I think this decision changed my life! God puts us in places at certain times for a reason, and I am happy I sat next to my daughter's cheer coach at that basket­ball game. It was the best decision!”

WHEN EXPERIENCE COUNTS

According to Bonner, Becki is precisely the type of student administrators had in mind when they de­signed the MyWay and TeachingMyWay pathways.

“Our target population is adult learners,” she said. “MyWay touches every pocket of any inconvenience or hindrance an adult learner could have like afford­ability, convenience, flexibility and accessibility.”

Unlike years ago when students had to be present in class, online learning for non-traditional students is now a popular alternative due to its convenience and flexibility. The scenarios are endless for potential candidates: busy parents, military spouses who move often, executives with demanding work schedules, single parents and alums who want to continue their education at UMHB.

“The beauty of MyWay is it eliminates the elements of having to be physically present somewhere and on someone else’s time,” Bonner said. “This program lets you do it on your time.”

There are numerous people who have accumulat­ed on-the-job work experience, but sometimes that experience comes at the cost of not getting to finish their degree, Bonner added.

“Just because they didn’t follow that timeline doesn’t mean they’re not people we want in management positions, moving up in companies and running companies,” she said. “I love that we’re opening that to people who maybe didn’t have time to be full-time students or who started as full-time students but had to work more and more to pay the bills until they could no longer take classes. It’s really exciting to see people realize they can do this!”

A NEW CHALLENGE FOR A NEW CAREER

College was the last thing on Mike Woods’ radar at 18 years old right out of high school.

“It just didn’t interest me,” he said. “I knew at that age I wouldn’t take it seriously.”

Mike ran his sales and marketing company for several decades, enjoying the freedom of being his own boss, the flexibility of creating his schedule, and the respectable income he earned while contracting sales with newspapers all over the state. But then COVID-19 hit, and his business suffered a blow. At the same time, he became a single dad and sole pro­vider to his 10-year-old daughter, Cleo, so he could no longer travel for work. He faced the realization that it was time for a new career.

As a highly involved volunteer at his daughter’s school, he had gotten to know the staff members over the years, and many of them kept suggesting he look into teaching. Since his daughter is his number one priority, it dawned on him that being a teacher was a perfect fit for him since their schedules would line up. He soon started taking his basic courses at Temple College and working as a substitute teacher to get his “feet wet.” He now works as an educational aide at the Belton ISD District Alternative Education Program, where he “does a little bit of everything,” including filling in when staff shortages occur.

Mike enrolled in MyWay last December to finish working toward a bachelor’s degree and plans to get his alternative teaching certification, just as Becki did.

“Not only is it flexible, but it’s super affordable,” he said.

During his first five weeks in the program, Mike completed four classes.

“I seize every opportunity to progress through the courses,” he said. “I’m up early studying. I’m up late study­ing. Any minute I have free, I engage in academic activi­ties, even if it’s five minutes.”

If he keeps up his current pace, Mike says he hopes to graduate with his bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership in May, followed by his teaching certification six to nine months later.

Mike says he is thrilled he discovered MyWay at UMHB and is constantly telling others about the program. The MyWay advisors are available to help prospective students determine if they qualify for admission and whether this pathway to teacher certification is right for them.