Southern Miss offers an online alternate route program for learners with a bachelor’s degree in a non-teaching field who want to become secondary teachers. The flexibility of the MAT degree allowed recent alumna Jess Sanford to pursue her dream of high school teaching while balancing other commitments.
“Success takes sacrifice, and Southern Miss has empowered me to turn my dreams into a reality,” Jess expressed.
Choosing Online at Southern Miss was an easy decision for Jess, as she followed in her family’s footsteps. Her father worked at USM’s Physical Plant until retirement, and her mother earned a master’s degree in music education from USM.
After six years as a heavy equipment operator in the asphalt industry, Jess sought a career change to better support her wife and two sons. As a result, online learning emerged as the perfect solution.
“Juggling long, grueling days as a blue-collar worker while a full-time student was challenging, but Online at Southern Miss made it all possible,” Jess said. The alternate route program accommodates learners with busy schedules by offering both synchronous and asynchronous courses. Synchronous courses meet in real-time for interaction between instructors and classmates, while asynchronous courses allow students to work at their own pace.
“One of my favorite aspects of the program was meeting like-minded people who shared similar dreams of creating positive change in the classroom,” Jess explained. As she and her classmates progressed through the program, they grew closer and continued to support one another.
She describes the MAT program as “purposefully personal” because of the tailored support from coordinators, advisors, and professors. “The program’s structure and resources make it manageable. It’s tough, but worth every bit of sacrifice. From coursework to practical guidance, the encouragement I’ve received has been incredible.”
Her determination and drive have pushed her to complete her master’s in teaching fully online while working full-time. Jess credits her wife and sons, though, as the catalysts for her ongoing perseverance.
She highlights that her experience with Online at Southern Miss has exceeded her expectations, providing her with the competency needed to begin her teaching career with confidence. As a family-oriented and passionate educator, she enjoys cultivating a close-knit family and classroom. On a perfect day, Jess and her wife enjoy watching their boys play sports. Her next goal is to earn a doctorate from Southern Miss to advance her career in higher education administration.
“I hope my story provides insights to anyone reading about how Southern’s MAT program can help students achieve their educational dreams, too.”
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