By Mira Radovich, Senior Contributing Writer
After leaving a job in the private sector job to raise her son, California native Anne Hansen was ready to reenter the working world. But this time she wanted to do something that mattered.
“As my son got older, I knew I wanted to do a job that let me be of service to others,” Hansen said. “Once he hit high school, I began subbing in my local school district to try and figure out what I wanted to teach, and fell in love with special education.”
With her new career goal settled, Hansen had to figure out what she needed to do to make it a reality.
“I did some research, and found that Rio Salado College offered exactly what I needed, and at a reasonable price,” Hansen said. “I did not want to go into debt to acquire my credential. The post baccalaureate program at Rio was perfect.”
Hansen enrolled in Rio’s post baccalaureate teacher-in-residence (TIR) program. The TIR program is for students who already have a bachelor’s degree and have received an offer of either part-time or full-time employment within the grade level and content of the desired certification program.
“I took a long-term sub position in a special education classroom and was offered a contract for the full year on an emergency credential,” Hansen said. “I was asked to stay in that position, and knew I would need to find a program that enabled me to teach and go to school simultaneously.”
Hansen enjoyed the convenience that online classes offered while she was teaching.
“It allowed me the flexibility of doing my classwork on my own time, which helped me balance family and teaching duties,” Hansen said. “It was a lot of work, and took a lot of juggling, but it was worth it!
Hansen said her most inspiring Rio class was Learning Disabilities in the Classroom (EDU223AB).
“That class covered a lot of material and it is one of the textbooks I kept and still refer to,” she said.
Hansen completed the TIR program in May 2020 at the start of the pandemic.
“The final lap was challenging because it fell at the beginning of Covid,” Hansen said. “We were all in flux, but the support from Rio was amazing. I had a wonderful, supportive cohort. My mentor teacher, Monique Molina, was tough, but pushed us to be our best.”
Today, Hansen has seven years of teaching at the Liberty Elementary School District under her belt, and has just begun teaching in the Litchfield Elementary School District. She credits Rio Salado for putting her on the path to a fulfilling and successful career.
“My credential from Rio helped me embark on a new and rewarding career,” Hansen said. “The high expectations from Rio and excellent coursework laid the foundation for me to become a teacher leader and even be named Westside Impact Teacher of the Year.”
Hansen recommends Rio to anyone who has considered a teaching career.
“I always encourage paraprofessionals with teaching hearts to pursue the TIR program at Rio,” Hansen said. “The program allows the flexibility you need to teach full-time and be in school, and the costs are reasonable. There is also potential for merit scholarships if you maintain a good GPA.”
Become a Teacher
Rio Salado College is now accepting Teacher In Residence applications for the Spring 2025.
- Application deadline for the Spring 2025 is December 18, 2024.
- All application materials must be submitted and completed by December 18, 2024.
- Applications for Spring 2025 semester will not be processed any sooner than November 19, 2024.
Applications that are incomplete or submitted after the deadline will be placed on hold and considered for Fall 2025 admission.