Dr. Nicole Meritt

Teaching Assistant Professor

 

All three of my degrees are from K-State’s College of Education, and I am a Wildcat through and through. I have a B.S. in Elementary Education, an M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on English Language Arts, a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction and a Special Education Endorsement.

 

I taught general education for several years, teaching both fourth and second grade. Then I moved into K-6 special education before returning to K-State. I am entering my eighth year teaching at K-State, and I teach a course designed for general education teachers focused on supporting students with disabilities in their classrooms. I also teach courses on dyscalculia and dyslexia, as well as a practicum course. Those courses are housed in our special education master’s program and the MAT Unified program.

 

Has special education always been your passion: If you had told me as an undergrad student working on my elementary education degree that I would end up in special education, I wouldn’t have believed you. I have always been around special education because my dad and later my husband were both special education teachers. I was convinced I would be in an elementary classroom for my whole career.

 

When I started teaching, I found myself drawn to the students who needed a little more help, had higher behavior needs or just needed more support. When I had the opportunity to move to a special education classroom, I got to work not only with students but also with teachers and paraprofessionals.

 

What are five words you hope students would use to describe your teaching style: I would hope they would describe it as passionate, energetic, caring, organized and invested. I strongly believe in ensuring that all teachers are prepared and that they view all students with disabilities as equal members of the classroom community. I work hard to bring energy to both my in-person and online classes through my teaching methods. I hope I come across as energetic about the content I teach. I hope students say I care not only about my content but also about them as human beings. I may only get them for a short period of time, but I truly care about them and their plans for the future. I hope they say I am organized because I spend a lot of time planning, organizing and teaching my classes for the best experience possible. Finally, I’m invested in my students’ growth and in equipping them with the skills they’ll need in the future.

 

What advice would you give to incoming MAT students: Give yourself permission to understand that you are still learning. When I started teaching in the MAT program, I learned a lot from my students in the first round of courses, and that was my biggest takeaway. We don’t expect you to walk into your classes knowing everything; that’s what we are here for. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, to be vulnerable or ask for feedback. Be willing to try new things and don’t just treat your classes as homework you have to do. The sooner that you can connect your courses to your future in a classroom, the more meaningful they will be. We will prepare you to walk into your classroom with the skills you need.