As a busy teacher and, later, a soon-to-be mom, Lindsay Keet didn’t have a lot of spare time, but it did not stop her from pursuing a master’s degree in special education. For her, choosing Messiah for her graduate studies was a given. “I attended Messiah as an undergrad and stayed involved after graduating, so when I decided to earn my master’s, it was a no-brainer that I would attend Messiah,” she said. The quality of education, the support of professors and hands-on application of concepts was exactly what she was looking for.
The knowledge and experiences she gained during her graduate studies allows her to better teach learners with special needs in a general education classroom. It also prepared her to sit in and provide input for individualized education program (IEP) meetings and implement specially designed instruction for those students.
Although Messiah’s Master of Education is a rigorous program, Lindsay said it was presented in a manageable way. “I learned valuable information in each course and felt like each assignment was designed with purpose,” she said. “Our professors knew the demands of our lives, personally and professionally, and wanted us to use our time wisely without sacrificing quality.”
Having online coursework helped make earning her degree more convenient but also prepared her for an important role. “Halfway through my graduate program, I began teaching in an online public charter school,” said Lindsay, “and I believe my experience as an online learner prepared me to be an online teacher.”
During her years at Messiah as an undergrad and grad student, Lindsay developed many professional and personal relationships with staff and fellow students. Not only does she maintain those relationships, she is excited to make new connections with current Messiah students and recent graduates at Commonwealth Charter Academy (CCA).
“We have been able to host student teachers from and hire a number of Messiah graduates,” Lindsay said. “I'm excited as I continue to see two places that are so close to my heart work together as we navigate new ideas in cyber education.”
Lindsay teaches kindergarten math and science at CCA and collaborates with coworkers to plan, design and implement developmentally appropriate lessons that include innovative technology.