Student Profile: Karly Allen

As a child, Karly Allen ’22 spent countless hours reading, writing, and searching online for math and science activities for the sole purpose of pursuing her passion for learning. “It wasn’t because learning came easy to me or because I was a star student,” she says. “It was because I had teachers who valued the qualities I possessed. They showed me that I am capable of learning and deserve to feel valued as a student and as a person. That is where my passion for teaching comes from, knowing that I can make this same change in my students’ lives.”

As a Special Education and Elementary Dual (SEED) major, Karly is preparing to become the type of teacher who can inspire young children to become lifelong learners. Marietta College is one of Ohio’s designated Top Educator Programs and boasts a near-100 percent job placement after graduation.

Throughout her time at Marietta, she has had access to elementary schools in several school districts in the area. In fact, she has completed field assignments in the Mid-Ohio Valley every semester, which has taught her about classroom management, best practices, and the abundance of responsibilities that teachers have inside and outside of the classroom.

“One experience that stands out to me is one that my classmates and I completed last semester for our EDUC 490 course,” Karly says. “We had an interactive program with the fifth-grade class from Marietta Elementary where we covered the 400^th anniversary of the first Thanksgiving. We had stations on the life of Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people, so students could have a clearer understanding of the true history of the first Thanksgiving. It was such an awesome experience that wouldn’t have been possible without Dr. Cathy Mowrer, my wonderful SEED classmates, and the help of the entire Education Department.”

The learning environment at Marietta, Karly describes, is like being a part of a dependable, supportive family. Professors in the Education Department want students to succeed and continue to be supportive mentors well beyond graduation. The program stands out because it values inclusivity.

“From day one, we have learned the importance of creating accessible learning opportunities for students of all abilities, races, ethnicities, socioeconomic status, etc.,” she says. “Classroom inclusivity ensures that all students benefit from the public school system, that no child is left behind. The Dual Education programs at Marietta College allow equal exposure to general education and special education, allowing for students in the program to teach in both the general education classroom and as intervention specialists. No matter the path chosen, the Marietta College Education Department does an immaculate job preparing its students for life after graduation.”