Career Roadmap
Tia's work combines: Education, Technology, and Helping People
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Brackett High School
Bachelor's Degree
Spanish Language Teacher Education
Texas Tech Uni
Graduate Degree
Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
The University of Texas at San Antonio
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education:
Bachelor's Degree: Spanish Language Teacher Education
Graduate Degree: Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
During my junior year at Texas Tech, I discovered I had no idea what I was going to do with a college degree in Spanish, so I got a secondary teaching certification "just in case."
2.
I was accepted into the UT Social Work graduate program, but could not find a teaching job anywhere near Austin, so I ended up teaching in Fredericksburg, TX.
3.
After teaching for a year, I decided that I wanted to do more to help children and protect them from the difficult situations they were sharing with me as their trusted teacher/adult.
4.
I moved to Dallas and began a seven and a half year career as a Child Protective Services caseworker. After having my daughter, I discovered working at CPS was too difficult on both me and my family.
5.
After an 11 year hiatus, I decided to get my master's degree in school counseling instead of social work. I wanted to be on the same schedule as my children.
6.
While in graduate school, I worked as a school social work/family specialist and eventually transitioned to an elementary counselor.
7.
In 2012, I finally made the move back to high school and I couldn't be happier with the work I do with my students at Memorial Early College High School.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Family:
You're too smart to be a teacher, social worker, counselor. You are going to be poor!
How I responded:
I wanted to work in a career that makes a difference every day in a child's life. I've done that in all three of my professional positions. If you don't love what you do, then you're doing the wrong thing!