Family and Consumer Sciences Education Master's Student Earns Post-Baccalaureate Teaching Certification

Texas Tech Graduate Student Teaching Experience

Family and Consumer Sciences Education (FCSE) master's student, Kaylin Morrison, is spending the spring semester as a student teacher in Temple, Texas. Kaylin received her bachelor's degree in Restaurant, Hotel, and Institutional Management from Texas Tech and is now working towards completing her post-baccalaureate teaching certification through FCSE.

"I came from the RHIM program which I had entered because of my innate love for hospitality," Kaylin said. "I found that I wanted to do more than just work in hospitality. I wanted to make a more direct impact and found that teaching was my mission field. I've loved every minute of it and haven't looked back but to see how my incredible journey has led me to where I am today."

The Family and Consumer Sciences Education master's degree program is typically smaller than other programs. Kaylin says this aspect of the program allows students to be actively engaged and form closer relationships with faculty.

"I have found that our content is more applicable, which really makes classes more enjoyable," Kaylin said. "We are the only FCSE program in the nation that has a bachelor's, master's, and doctoral program readily available to our field."

As part of her teacher certification process, Kaylin is currently student teaching in grade levels 10-12 at the Temple High School campus. She rotates between culinary arts, advanced culinary, and the culinary practicum courses.

"Temple High School is blessed with a wonderful career and technical education department that I get to be a part of working towards my M.S. in Family and Consumer Sciences Education," Kaylin said. "Specifically, the culinary classrooms are set up with commercial kitchens as well as a student-run coffee shop and restaurant/catering."

As a graduate student, Kaylin says that her academic and personal experiences have provided ample material to draw on when relating to students in the classroom.

"I also feel that I am able to 'co-teach' more and provide input that is welcomed by the teacher," Kaylin explained. "The first day I came to the school just to observe and hit the ground running. It didn't take long before I was greeting students at the door, helping them improve their culinary skills, and even helping with culinary conversions."

Kaylin describes her graduate degree as an opportunity that allows her to make an impact on the lives of others through building relationships and helping others pursue something greater than themselves. Student teaching is where it gets real, Kaylin said.

"Real-world experience is probably the most enriching thing you can do and having that as a part of a degree plan really makes a difference," Kaylin said. "I think what appeals to me most about being in the classroom is getting to see the fruits of your labor. Teaching truly is a work of heart. You get to work with impressionable teenagers to help them be the best versions of themselves. Yes, the things that are put into lesson plans for them to learn are important, but you get to help push them towards something brighter than what might be found at home or mentally or in their social lives or at work or any other place of their lives. Attitude is important, and if you can believe in them, then maybe they can believe in themselves."