Brittany Craig has been working in schools since 2019. She’s been a paraeducator and a long-term substitute teacher. But now, after years of hard work and determination, she can finally say she did it: She has earned her Iowa teaching license thanks to her elementary education degree from the University of Northern Iowa and gets to continue the work she started in a third grade classroom in Fort Dodge.

“I just liked working with the kids,” Craig said of her early experiences as a paraeducator. “I worked with a lot of kids who had a lot of challenges, and it was really rewarding seeing those kids make improvements and watch them become proud of themselves. I really enjoyed that. So I figured by being a teacher, I would be able to see a little more of that.”

Craig, a native of southern Iowa, wasn’t sure what career path she wanted to take when she first graduated from high school. In 2017, she decided to enroll at a community college and get her associate's degree. It was after that she began working as a paraeducator.

“I liked it a lot more than I thought I would, and I wanted to keep going up,” she said.

In 2022, Craig earned her sub authorization and began substitute teaching frequently. She decided she would go back to school online through an out-of-state university to complete her bachelor’s degree that spring. However, when the time came for her to take the Praxis, Craig struggled. She got test anxiety, which prevented her from passing the writing portion of the exam. Although Iowa no longer requires the Praxis for teacher licensure, this out-of-state school did. As a result, she graduated, but without student teaching and unable to meet licensure requirements. 

In spite of this hurdle, Craig was still confident in her ability to be a successful teacher. She began calling schools and talked to UNI employees to figure out her options.

It was Jenny Connolly, director of advising in the College of Education Advising and Teacher Education Success office, who proved especially helpful in determining UNI would be the right fit. 

“She would check in just to see how things were going,” said Craig. “She always said no question was too silly. She was constantly replying and helping me out. I definitely could not have done it without her.”

To complete both UNI and state requirements, Craig just needed to take a few classes online and then prepare for a semester of student teaching. Then, a new bill passed in the Iowa Legislature that would help her achieve her goals even faster. The bill allows the experiences of individuals like Craig who have worked as a paraeducator or substitute teacher to count toward their time student teaching. 

To qualify, Iowans must have an authorization to substitute teach or a paraeducator certificate and have worked in a classroom that lines up with the endorsement they are working toward. They also must have received supervision from their school.

The summer before Craig began student teaching, Connolly emailed her about the new Iowa legislation. It would mean rather than student teaching for the typical 16 weeks, Craig only needed to complete eight. 

“This is not reduced student teaching,” explained Benjamin Forsyth, College of Education associate dean for undergraduate studies and teacher education at UNI. “It’s more that you've already done the equivalent of what student teaching is. I think that's a really important distinguishing factor because we want to make sure that students are well prepared going into their first job. We just recognize that some really have done that work even before they get to student teaching.”

Forsyth says there is a growing list of current students, particularly those in the Purple Pathway for Paraeducators and online transfer program, who are requesting and receiving approval for shortened student teaching placements of varying lengths. The option may be better suited for some students than others, depending on factors like financial aid and hours required for graduation. 

For Craig, it was the right choice. She feels accomplished for finishing what she started in spite of the obstacles she faced. And she was able to do it while parenting four children and teaching full-time. She is proud to be among the first students who qualified for student teaching equivalent work at UNI. 

“Somebody like Brittany Craig who has lots of experience, who's worked a lot of time in schools — this is a great opportunity to recognize the work she's done,” said Forsyth. “We were very happy to create a pathway for her to become a successful teacher.”