Eli Rollman’s path to the Master of Science in Education program for teaching secondary social studies was not direct. He practiced law for six years, intellectually fascinated by the legal system. Soon he began to think about how to combine his passion for the law with his longstanding interest in teaching and working with children.
“I have always liked working with teenagers,” he says. “I want to introduce the law to students who come at it with a relatively blank slate, and in the context of learning for its own sake.” As Rollman began to look for a teaching program that would help him accomplish his goals, he found that the Master of Science in Education Program works to wed theory to practice and to allow numerous opportunities to become a reflective practitioner.
“Northwestern seemed to be an ideal place for me to prepare to become a teacher,” he says, “because it offers more than merely a path to teaching certification.”
Rollman has not been disappointed with his choice. For him, the benefits of the program begin with the people that surround him. “I benefit from the opportunity to be taught by faculty who are experienced teachers,” he says, “and I benefit from the collective wisdom of my fellow students.”
The highlight of the program has been his student teaching experience at Evanston Township High School, where he has gotten to work with a diverse group of students and an experienced, welcoming mentor. During his observations and student teaching at Evanston Township, Rollman was able to observe many law classes which helped with his master’s project about how to teach law to high school students in order to help them improve their critical thinking skills.
In advance of his student teaching experience, he acquired background and support from his program classes. “The preparation I received in my practicum and methods courses at Northwestern was invaluable,” says Rollman. As a father of two, Rollman has been especially appreciative of the flexibility and support of students, faculty and staff. “Maybe the best aspect of the program for me has been how willing everyone has been to extend themselves to help me out.”
Student Profile