Wyandotte, Maitland substitutes complete degree requirements

Two long-term St. Mary Parish substitute teachers have completed the requirements for Bachelor of of Arts in Liberal Studies degrees, interim Superintendent Dr. Buffy Fegenbush said.

Crystal Knope and Theresa Rodriquez were recognized during graduation ceremonies Tuesday for Reach University.

Oxford Teachers College is an initiative of Reach University designed to help school districts to “grow their own” teachers by offering a degree plan based on job-embedded teaching experiences.

Fegenbush is encouraging all St. Mary Parish paraprofessionals and support staff members who hope to be teachers in their own classrooms one day to seize this opportunity.

Knope is currently a long-term substitute teacher at Wyandotte Elementary School. She has been employed in St. Mary for seven years, serving six years as a paraprofessional.
When the opportunity presented itself for her to enroll in this undergraduate program, she began the journey to becoming a degreed and certified classroom teacher.

Rodriquez previously served St. Mary students as a paraprofessional for 15 years. This is her 16th year in St. Mary and is serving as a long-term substitute teacher at Maitland Elementary. The Reach University initiative made it possible for her to continue to work in her current position while earning her degree.