Victoria (Knight ’12) Semple

Elementary Education Mild Intervention

Biography

I initially went to Taylor University for an Elementary Education Degree. I finished in 2012. I did not go into teaching until about 5 years later. I was married my senior year of college, and then 3 years later had my first child. I was a stay at home mom for several years until she went to preschool. I enjoyed those years but desired to continue to follow God's plan for my life and start up my teaching career. I first taught as a paraprofessional and long term sub for one year. I continued the next year in 1st grade general education, and I loved it.

I was then moved to 4th grade in what they called a dual classroom setting. This is where half of the children had and IEP and half of the children did not but struggled with academics or behaviors. I needed my special education license to continue in this position, and this classroom was exceedingly difficult to manage without having a degree in special education. I had to be taught how to write an IEP on the job! I started the Sp Ed Mild- Moderate P12 license program and slowly went through the classes, at times just one class at a time. I had two young children starting out and a full time job. I then had my third child during the pandemic and continued to finish the program. It took some late nights, but I finished with flying colors. I now am teaching a multi-categorical special education classroom and really enjoy it, and I love knowing that I can continue in it with the license I now have.

What were some of your most valuable experiences at Taylor?

I enjoyed working through the assignments. I felt like they really were real-world, relevant assignments that helped prepare me for teaching special education. I could use the material that I was taught to better improve even what I was doing in my own classroom at the time.

How did your classes or interactions with professors at Taylor impact your growth?

I grew immensely in the time that I was working through these classes. I grew in my knowledge about students with disabilities. I grew in the knowledge of how to write an effective IEP. I also became much more proficient in helping students with disabilities, which is really what being a special education teacher is about.

How can Taylor graduates use their unique Taylor education and its liberal arts foundational core as an asset in your discipline?

Taylor graduate students can use their knowledge to help their students grow. They can use their sharpened abilities to improve the lives of these students and to be an advocate for them.

What advice or encouragement could you provide for Taylor students in your vocational discipline?

If you are a special education teacher, you might also be tired. Renewing your mind through the reading of scripture and prayer is essential. I would also recommend keeping work at work. We love these students so much, sometimes we bring our work home, whether figuratively or literally. God loves these children more than we can imagine and leaving them in God's hands is sometimes all we can do and try our best when we do have the pleasure to work with them.