Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! Meet Sarah McNamara
In honor of Teacher Appreciation week, we are spotlighting the educational journey of some NLU faces! We sat down with Sarah McNamara, ’09 M.A.T. and ’22 M.Ed. in Educational Leadership, to ask her a few questions about her NLU experience:
Why did you choose National Louis as your university? NLU has a wonderful reputation for preparing teachers for education. I received my Masters of Arts in Teaching from NLU in 2009 and loved the program. It made sense for me to attend NLU for my Educational Leadership Masters as well.
You received $500 from NLU to go towards classroom supplies. How did this benefit your school and your students? Every dollar counts at my school. These classroom supplies will have a direct impact on my students and teachers. I am so grateful for this!
Have you been able to use what you've learned in your classes at NLU in your own school? I learned so much at NLU. My classwork was spot on for what I needed to know as an administrator. My internship supervisor guided me through everything I needed to accomplish. She continues to be my mentor today!
How do you plan on using your degree from NLU to advance your career? I currently am a first year Assistant Principal after being a teacher for over 10 years at this school. I plan on being a leader in my school and making a positive impact on our school community.
If you could describe your future career goal in one word, what would that be (e.g. Leader.)? Development
Most of our students are ‘determined to realize their goals.’ Do you have an example that you want to share, when you’ve displayed determination in achieving your goals? What is the biggest obstacle you’ve had to overcome? The biggest obstacle I have achieved so far is making the leap from teacher to administrator. It hasn’t been the easiest process, but I am learning so much as I develop as a leader.
Do you have any encouraging words that you want to say to current National Louis students? Where there is a will, there is a way. I truly believe this. If you want something bad enough, you can make it happen through education. I always wanted to be an administrator but I didn't know how to get there. NLU truly helped me blaze my path to leadership.
Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years, I will be a more seasoned administrator at my current school. I will have developed as a strong leader. I want to see my school, my teachers and my students shine knowing that I gave this 100%!
Interested in becoming a teacher? You can view NLU’s educational programs here. We also invite you to contact an Enrollment Specialist online or call (888) 658-8632 to discuss your personal and professional goals.
