Vann Hassell

middle school ELA teacher

Olathe, Kansas

Hometown: De Soto, Kansas

Undergraduate degree: Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and East Asian Languages and Cultures

Why I chose teaching: I was working as an ASL interpreter, and I was frustrated by the fact that I was only able to have a passive role in my clients' lives. I wanted something more active and, at the same time, I wanted something more challenging that saw me creating material and not just relaying information.

Why I selected K-State’s MAT program: K-State's MAT program offered the flexibility I needed to my teaching context. I knew that I wanted to teach at the Kansas State School for the Deaf and the Practitioner track of the MAT program let me start working while developing the skills I needed to become a more effective educator. Additionally, the faculty and staff of the program were kind, knowledgeable, and ready to work with me given my unique teaching context.

Why I’m a unique teacher: I teach at a school for the Deaf, which uniquely enables me to meet the language needs of my students while providing a quality educational experience. As a teacher, I have to be adaptable and prioritize understanding my students as individuals with a variety of language backgrounds to inform my instructional decisions.

“K-State's MAT program is the perfect program to meet the needs of the current diverse student population. As our classrooms change, so too should the backgrounds and experiences of our teaching staff. K-State's program recognizes the variety of talents and experiences career-changers bring to the educational arena and gives these professionals a path to share their knowledge with the next generation.”