-: So I went through the accelerated LAMP Program,
which is a 10-month intense program
for second career teachers.
I was not teaching before that.
What I learned at UT was how to use my resources,
how to find out who's better at something that I am
and go talk to them.
We had to rely on each other as a cohort.
UT supported that.
I could go into the Educational Offices at any time
and say, I am not having a good placement.
I don't understand what my expectations are,
and they would advocate with me
or give me the words that I needed.
They also have a very large network across the nation,
so that if I had a question about teaching
at a higher level or teaching at a lower level,
or teaching at an urban school versus suburban,
they could reach out and find someone.
And they were willing to do so.
Those networks have continued.
One of the programs we run at my high school involves
bringing in outside professional judges.
I reach out to UT, and every time I have them coming back
and giving back.
That sense of giving back
was also instilled in us from the beginning.
Knowing that you're part of a larger community
of educators, of students, of the world,
and that's something that we need to stay connected to.