UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
curriculum & instruction
recent grad experience: kate topley
Recent grad reflects on UK experience
Recent University of Kentucky College of Education
graduate Kate Topley is teaching classrooms of seventh and
eighth-grade science students at Edythe J. Hayes Middle
School in Lexington. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in
Education from UK in May 2015, majoring in Middle
School Education, with concentrations in Science and
English Language Arts. Topley recently shared about her
experience at UK.
Why did you choose UK?
I chose to attend the University of Kentucky because
of the strong reputation that the College of Education
had among the surrounding counties, and with principals
within the area. I knew I wanted a strong foundation in
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educational strategies and practices, as well as a supportive
learning environment from my peers and professors.
Why did you become a teacher?
I became a teacher because of my younger brother. He
was a very active, smart and innovative learner, but struggled
in school during the middle school years. I noticed that
many times the teachers he was working with had lost some
of the passion that education must have. I wanted to bring
passion and excitement into a classroom for students who
may be struggling through these important years. I also
wanted to help students start to develop the idea of who
they are, be okay with their interests and build confidence in
their ideas.
COE COMMUNICATOR | APRIL 2016