As a 2001 graduate of the Master of Science in Education program, Glenn Simon feels well prepared for his current position as a social studies teacher at Maine East High School in Park Ridge, Illinois. The program gave him the tools to take the ideas that he likes from educational theory and incorporate them into his classroom practice.
“The program's emphasis on philosophy afforded me an intellectual framework from which to craft goals and objectives,” says Simon. “On a more practical level, the methods classes and practicum experiences gave me hands-on access to a variety of instructional techniques.” This combination of training in both theory and practice has provided an important framework for classroom practice.
One aspect of the program that particularly impressed Simon was the faculty. “My methods instructor was a veteran teacher and administrator, and his advice was invaluable,” he says. “Northwestern attracts the highest quality faculty, and my professors were at the pinnacle of their field in terms of experience and theory.”
The experience and support that the faculty provided proved vital to Simon's success as a teacher, as well as to his success in the job search process. “I am certain that the program opened doors to me that might not otherwise have been possible,” says Simon, who credits the content of the program as well as its reputation for helping him to land the job that he now enjoys.
Alumni Profiles