Marcella White
Norwich is unique because of the organization of its programs and intentional attention to rigor and achievement. It offered me a cohesive program that applied specifically to my area of interests and was immediately applicable.
Q: “Tell us a bit about yourself, Marcella.”
A: "I live in southeastern Washington State in Kennewick – one of the three cities that make up the Tri-Cities. It’s where I grew up and where my parents, brother and sister-in-law live. Currently I’m unmarried and enjoying my single life by spending a lot of time traveling and dedicating time to advising my high school’s Key Club and coaching girls’ soccer."
Q: “What is your current employer and briefly describe your professional life.”
A: "Pasco School District – Pasco High School. I’m the head of the social studies department and currently teach advanced world history as well as AP U.S. history. Previously, I taught sociology and civics."
Q: “What was your motivation for pursuing your degree?”
A: "In some part, my motivation for pursuing my master’s degree was monetary – in order to see an income increase that comes with a master’s degree. However, the choice to pursue a degree outside of the field of education – where most of my peers maintain their focus – is reflective of my own passion for the content I teach and my desire for mastery of my subject knowledge and opportunity to bring that mastery back to benefit my students."
Q: “What makes Norwich unique?”
A: "Norwich is unique because of the organization of its programs and intentional attention to rigor and achievement. When I was searching for programs there were many that I could have chosen in which I would have taken courses that allowed me to check the right combination of boxes that translated into degree completion. By contrast, Norwich offered me a cohesive program that applied specifically to my area of interests and was immediately applicable to my professional practice."
Q: “How have you grown personally or professionally as a result of your education?”
A: "My Norwich experience has provided an opportunity for content growth in the subject area I teach to high school students. However, I’ve grown the most in the areas of reading, analyzing and synthesizing, and now use these skills in my personal and professional life."
Q: “Please tell us about any examples where you were able to put your knowledge to work immediately at your job.”
A: "Teaching the same subject matter in which I was learning at Norwich made much of my knowledge immediately applicable. What I believe has been more valuable is the skills I learned and then imparted to my students and used for myself in collaborative settings. From teaching my students proper citation skills to being able to clearly and concisely express my own thoughts; all of these skills were honed through my Norwich education."
