⏱ 6 min read

Some jobs are more than “just a job.” That’s something Marissa Wikes and Merissa Willmond, two future teachers, have come to understand.

After stumbling across TeachDFW services, both individuals took advantage of 1-on-1 calls, application checklists and fee reimbursements to pursue their teaching certifications. And today, two different Mærissas with two different stories are now prospective teacher prep students:

• Marissa Wikes (with an 'a'): A Spanish language-lover looking to build cross-cultural understanding.
• Merissa Willmond (with an 'e'): An experienced TA (and hands-on learning enthusiast) who seeks broader career horizons in the classroom.

Here are their stories.

There’s one topic that Marissa Wikes can’t go long without mentioning: the Spanish language. In the first few minutes of our interview, Marissa rattled off an impressive resume (though she would never use the word “impressive” herself):

• Taught Spanish in Spain with a Teaching Assistanceship. 
• Graduated from Sweet Briar College with a BA in Spanish.
• Got a Certificate of Translation from NYU.

Listed in a row, it seems that Marissa might have moved from one accomplishment to the next with no hesitation. Nah. After graduating from college, Marissa relocated to New York City and got a job in the corporate world. “It was supposed to be temporary,” she explains, “but it became my full-time job.” And although it was a decent living, Marissa wasn’t satisfied.

Spanish really does go into my interests outside of work. I’m really into film and art—I love Mexican cinema and going to museums—and I’m very interested in literary translation. I’m trying to learn more about that right now.

So, it would make sense that a job unaffiliated with Spanish wouldn’t quite satisfy a hispanophile. (Add that word to your arsenal.) Marissa changed course when she discovered that certain communities in Texas might benefit from her skill set. “I ran across TeachDFW from some friends in the education community, got really good resources, and made a plan to move across the country.”

Psst... did you know there's high demand for bilingual educators, with many districts in DFW offering signing bonuses and yearly stipends up to $4,000 a year? Head over to Salary & Benefits to learn more!

One of those resources was the program explorer, something Marissa describes as “the first time I saw all my [teacher prep] options listed in one place.” Soon, she connected with an adviser using 1:1 coaching, who helped her choose the best programs to apply to. After all, to become a teacher, you have to get certified first.

She admits, “Once I graduated, it was hard to go back to school. There was always something preventing me, like work or bills or something else. But teaching was always in the back of my mind.” 

Evaluating preparation programs and knowing what steps to take to apply can feel overwhelming. But Marissa used the application checklists to keep track of program application deadlines. “It’s a good place to see what you have left to do and what you need to have prepared.” In particular, the combination of checklists and 1-on-1 advice helped Marissa sign up for the PACT exam:

It was a huge moment, because in the past I have often been discouraged if it feels too daunting to ask a question or get the right advice.

Marissa is nearing the end of her application process, where she’ll take advantage of fee reimbursements, and even though there have been many steps, she’s confident that she’s getting them done right. With luck, she’ll be enrolled and on her way to leading a classroom soon.

I’m so passionate about Spanish, and I want to share that. I want to build a cross-cultural understanding between Spanish and English speakers to ensure that all students get a fair chance to learn and have equal opportunities—and to challenge kids who don’t always get challenged.

And that’s something we all want: a teacher who is committed to more than test scores, who understands the fullest range of positive outcomes for her students. As Marissa put it: “I have always been a person who wants to serve the community and serve people—that’s what I want to do with my job.”

When Merissa started at El Centro College to receive her 2-year degree, it was in pursuit of another profession:

I was going to be a nurse, but I have a passion—and the patience—for teaching children. I love kids.

This realization brought Merissa into a pre-K classroom as Teacher Assistant after graduation. And though she’s been involved in many parts of the curriculum—social, emotional, reading, letters and sounds, to name a few—Merissa likes teaching math the most: “I’ve always been pretty good at math, and I like to teach it using hands-on activities.”

Last week, we did ‘lily pads.’ Students roll the dice, count how many dots come up, and then draw that many frogs on the lily pads. It’s really helped the kids who had trouble recognizing numbers.

But being in the classroom as a TA isn’t Merissa’s end-goal. She wants to become a full-time teacher. And although Merissa knew she needed to get teacher certified and, in her words, has “been saying year after year that I’ve been wanting to get into school,” she didn’t know where to start.

That’s when Merissa received an email about TeachDFW services from the TeachDFW team. Looking back, Merissa describes it as “a service that is really helpful in the main areas of getting into school and securing your certification.” 

She started by connecting with an adviser, who has been in “constant contact” on the phone and over email. Merissa was encouraged to then take advantage of application checklists, which “take me step by step.” 

The checklist makes it so much easier to apply for teacher preparation programs. I got my recommendations, applied to my FAFSA, and now I’m working on my essay.

Merissa is looking forward to becoming a teacher “to apply the experience I already have and have an even greater impact.” The increased pay is a great bonus, and the hours are also convenient for spending time with her family.

When Merissa does receive her certification, she’ll target teaching jobs in kindergarten through second grade—and she’ll be making a difference in the lives of many in Dallas-Ft. Worth.

Together, we’re breaking down the highest hurdle towards becoming a teacher, opening up the profession to talented individuals with a diversity of skill sets.

Do you want to apply your talents to a profession that shapes the future of our world? 

• If you’re ready to apply to a teacher preparation program and join those fighting for better education, sign up for a TeachDFW account.
• Still on the fence? You can always take our roadmap quiz to determine if the career is a good fit for you.

As an organization devoted to helping people explore and develop in the teaching profession, we are constantly speaking with prospective teachers about their experiences. Send TeachDFW a message on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter if you have a story to share.