Texas Teachers | Alternative Teacher Certification Program : Success Story by Barry Saunders

Success Stories

Meet Barry Saunders

Q&A with Barry Saunders

Where are you originally from?

Philadelphia, PA
Where did you go to college and what did you study?

I attended Kutztown University in Kutztown, PA. I studied Telecommunications.
Do you have children?

I have two children. My son Daniel (age 11) and my daughter Jazmine (age 7).
Do you remember your favorite teacher? What made them special to you?

I cannot claim just one teacher as my favorite. There were far too many who influenced me in a positive way.
What did you do before teaching?

I was an entry level/mid level manager for multiple companies for thirteen years.
Why did you get into teaching?

I got into teaching for stability and to make a difference. Over the 13 years I was in management, I had far too many employees who could not effectively read or write.
What surprised you the most when you started teaching?

The opportunities that exist for folks like me who care about students in this profession.
What is the biggest challenge for new teachers?

Organization, time management and getting used to working past "business hours."
How long do you think it takes for a new teacher to really get their hands around teaching?

A year; one has to experience it all in order to get better at teaching.
What do the kids teach you?

The biggest things my students have taught me are: Patience, their language and lives now compared to mine as a teen, and how to relate to them in more than one way when it comes to instruction.
What's the funniest thing that's happened to you in the classroom?

I was sitting on a desk conducting a lesson, and the desk broke. My 3rd period students—a room full of sophomores—looked concerned at first, but when I got up laughing, they started to laugh. In fact, by 5th period, most of the school (students & staff) knew I sat on and broke a desk.
Why did you choose the Texas Teachers program?

I chose Texas Teachers because the program didn't require a lot of money down, my initial interview made me feel very comfortable with the program, and... they didn't ask for a lot of money down!
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