Samantha Elleman is prepared for a classroom of her own, no matter what the next academic year may bring.

Samantha Elleman of Bath, Indiana, graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. Photo by Timary Lee Photography

Elleman received her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education degree from IU East. She said her degree has prepared her to get into the classroom as soon as possible.

“We couldn’t have seen this pandemic happening, but the School of Education (SoE) gets its students into the classroom as soon as possible, so we’re as prepared as we can be once we have our own classrooms.”

Elleman lives in Bath, Indiana. This spring she commuted a half-hour away to complete her student teaching with a fifth-grade class at William Bruce Elementary School in Eaton, Ohio.

“I really liked the teaching community,” Elleman said. “All of the teachers, at least on the fifth-grade team, would collaborate well and got along. It reminded me a lot of the elementary school where I attended and it just really felt like family.” She attended College Corner Union Elementary, which is part of the Union County–College Corner Joint State School District.

Even after in-class room teaching was suspended to go to remote learning because of the pandemic, Elleman continued to assist the teacher for the remainder of the school year. Originally scheduled to be in the classroom until April 17, Elleman’s last in-person day at the elementary was March 13.

With K-12 school districts considering what the next school year could hold for instruction – including returning to classes in person, online, or a mix of both – Elleman feels she is prepared.

“I’m pretty confident in my abilities to use technology,” Elleman said. “I feel like my student teaching experience and helping online has prepared me for this fall, if that’s what I have to do this August.”

This spring IU East also suspended face-to-face classes because of the virus and moved to all-online classes. Elleman was in one online course for sociology, plus her student teaching, at the beginning of the semester. The move to all-online classes didn’t impact her class, but she and other graduating education majors were concerned about how they would pass their classes or meet established requirements for student teaching and licensing exams by the state’s Department of Education.

Graduates with a teaching degree can apply for an emergency teaching license, in Indiana and Ohio, so they can teach this fall. She plans to get the emergency license and then take her exams during the next year to receive her certification.

“They (SoE) were really flexible with us,” Elleman said. “Basically they said they would do what they needed to so we could graduate. The faculty as a whole offered great support, especially in these times of uncertainty. They made sure we all remained calm, and they assured us that they would support us no matter what we needed.”

Tommy Renfro, instructor of science education, B.S. Education 2003, has taught Elleman in several classes.

“Her practical approach to the classroom and passion for student success is evident in her work, peer interactions and cooperating teacher reviews,” Renfro said. “Samantha is punctual and approaches every classroom experience with integrity. I am excited to see these character traits sow into student success in her future classroom. I speak for the entire School of Education when I say, ‘Congratulations Samantha, we cannot wait to see you continue to grow into a rock star teacher.'”

Elleman has wanted to be a teacher since kindergarten. She hopes to have her own classroom as a fourth-grade teacher this fall. And she’s no stranger to what it’s like to work in education. Her mother, Amanda, B.S.W. 1997, is a secretary at the College Corner Union school and her father, Jeremy, is an electrical contractor.

She is searching for a teaching position and going through the application process. She’s preparing for interviews, now being held online or the telephone instead of in-person.

In high school at Union County High School in Liberty, Indiana, Elleman was an honors student. She also participated in three sports. After she graduated, she attended Indiana University Bloomington before transferring in 2017 to IU East.

In October 2019 Elleman returned to IU for one of her most memorable experiences as an IU East student. She is a 2019 recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Service Award (DASA). As a recipient of the scholarship, Elleman attended a luncheon and a dinner banquet held in Bloomington. Her oldest brother, a student at IU, attended with her. Elleman was one of the students to speak at the dinner with 300 alumni guests and IU President Michael A. McRobbie. “It was a pretty good experience,” Elleman said.

DASA scholarship recipients are nominated for the award based on academic performance by their respective campuses. Each year, IU recognizes outstanding alumni with the DASA, the highest accolade reserved solely for alumni. The awardees are leaders in their chosen fields who make significant contributions benefiting their community, state, nation, or university. Elleman has received several other alumni-related honors including the IU East Alumni Association Scholarship, the Bette G. Davenport Scholarship and the IUEAA Pride of the Pack.

For current students who are making their way through their academic programs, Elleman has some advice.

“Follow your dreams, or your passion, no matter what anyone says,” Elleman said. “I know that sounds really cliché but if I had a dollar for every time someone tried to talk me out of teaching, because teachers don’t make a lot of money or it isn’t worth it, I could have paid to put myself through college. Follow your heart, and no matter what you’re passionate about, go for it.”

Now Elleman is planning to celebrate her graduation with her family.

“My parents joke about throwing me a graduation party in the backyard, as long as we keep it to less than 10 people,” Elleman said. “I’m hoping to celebrate somehow, because to me, college graduation is a big deal. I want to be able to celebrate my achievements accordingly.”