The Calling to Teach

A deep dive into what it means to educate, inspire, and ignite passion in today’s classrooms.

This course serves as an educational foundations class for students grade 9–12 interested in learning more about teaching and K-12 institutional learning in the United States. Students relate their personal passions to educational contexts, and learn how history has shaped the profession of teaching.

This course is unique as it covers ALL facets of education! ANY student interested in becoming a teacher- whether it be in physical education, history, science, world language, animal sciences, special education, mathematics, and so on, will be supported through this course. This course will help develop ALL students through a unique analysis of what it means to teach, becoming a lifelong learner, and reflecting on professional responsibilities, whether it be in Kindergarten, elementary school, middle or high school!

Sessions Offered

Storrs Session 4:

July 19, 2026 - July 25, 2026

Format

Non-Credit

At the end of the week, students will be able to…

  • Describe their teacher identity, and how they can utilize it to inform their practice.
  • Broadly analyze the sociopolitical structure of school and teaching in the United States.
  • Articulate how their passions shape what they desire to teach and how they learn.
  • Recount the principles of belonging and inclusion that foster a positive classroom environment.
  • Reflect on the importance of joyfulness in teaching and making a commitment to lifelong learning.

Meet the Professor

 

Cleo Alberts

Ph.D Student,  UConn Neag School of Education

Cleo Alberts taught at public middle and high schools in Connecticut for five years in Hartford and New Haven. She is currently a 2nd year PhD student in the Neag School of Education at the University of Connecticut. Cleo is studying secondary mathematics education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.  She has been published in the field of trauma-informed, restorative teaching practices, has conducted research on student-created problems and their relevance to student cultural identities, and for the last year, has worked managing her advisor's grant promoting the leadership of math teachers around the state of Connecticut. In addition to formerly being a mechanical engineer designing airports. Cleo loves teaching and inspiring a new wave of educators in fields beyond mathematics.