Texas Teachers | Alternative Teacher Certification Program : Success Story by Will Childs

Success Stories

Meet Will Childs

Q&A with Will Childs

Where are you originally from?

I was born in Mexia, Texas, and spent the first month or two of my life there. I claim Dallas as my home, because that's where I grew up.
Where did you go to college and what did you study?

I did my undergraduate studies at Syracuse University, and majored in Political Science. After graduating from Syracuse, I went to law school at the University of Oregon, in Eugene, Oregon.
Do you have children?

I don't have any children.
Do you remember your favorite teacher? What made them special to you?

My favorite teacher was Ms. Cynthia Newton, my orchestra teacher. Ms. Newton, more than any other teacher, believed in me, encouraged me, and most of all, she introduced me to the wonder of music.
What did you do before teaching?

Before I entered the teaching profession, I practiced law in Oregon.
Why did you get into teaching?

I became a teacher in order to make a meaningful and positive impact on the lives of our future leaders.
What surprised you the most when you started teaching?

I was most surprised by the level of optimism and dedication that many of my students have shown about life and education.
What is the biggest challenge for new teachers?

One challenge that I faced, as a brand new teacher, was gaining a sense of comfort with the curriculum that I had to teach. There are so many acronyms, terms, objectives, and labels that we teachers have to be familiar with in order to teach the necessary objectives, that it is easy to feel a bit overwhelmed during those first few weeks of that first year.
How long do you think it takes for a new teacher to really get their hands around teaching?

Teaching, like any profession, is a constant learning experience. Any teacher that has his/her hands around teaching should retire and write the golden teacher rule book.
What do the kids teach you?

The kids have taught me to relax and laugh more at life's everyday little mishaps, and just "go with the flow."
What's the funniest thing that's happened to you in the classroom?

It wasn't in the classroom, but my students performed a community service project last spring. It was raining, but the kids kept a very positive attitude. One of my students was so happy that she broke out in one of the craziest dances I think I have ever seen. Another student recorded it, and no matter how many times I saw it, I found her performance hilarious.
Why did you choose the Texas Teachers program?

I chose Texas Teachers because its alternative certification program afforded me the opportunity to prepare for teaching at a flexible and self-paced rate.
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