Return
to ELMACDeepika Ahuja, Elmac ’04 
Deepika teaches fourth grade at Cranbrook Academy, a private school located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. “I have 16 children in my class,” Deepka says, “And I love each and every one of them!”
Deepika’s favorite quote on teaching:
“The more passion you have about something, the more likely it will translate into a passion in the student.” – Katherine Patterson
Background: Deepika has a bachelors and masters degree in English Literature from Delhi University in India. After a couple of years of substitute and bilingual teaching in her son’s school in West Bloomfield, Michigan, her principal encouraged her to earn a teaching degree. “I wanted to make a difference in the lives of children, and couldn’t have chosen a nobler profession.”
Current position and the ELMAC experience: Deepika discussed how she is using what she learned in ELMAC: “I believe all children to be learners and expect them to produce their best. My students thrive on deep, nourishing conceptual understanding. ELMAC has taught me how to build a collaborative atmosphere in a classroom, which leads to building life long learners with high self esteem and a sense of purpose.”
She also appreciated each of her ELMAC professors for what they taught her. They all effectively modeled what a good teacher does. “One professor’s words always ring true in my ears, ‘Teach deeper, not wider. Start with the end in mind.’ The funny part is that I didn’t even realize then, that his apparently simple conversational style (“How do you know that?”) was the best model for a collaborative, constructivist approach to teaching.”
Why ELMAC was right for Deepika: Deepika liked the compact, intensive nature of the program and she valued the cohort system. Her experiences as a student teacher in Detroit have made her more adaptable to children’s needs. As for the bonding with her cohort members, she says, “The 25 of us – it was like a family.” Deepika also appreciated the openness and availability of the professors. “You could ask as many questions as you wanted; the professors were always available. They never shied from giving their home numbers, email-everything. “Stu Rankin’s love for children and easy accessibility has remained with me even today as I gladly welcome my student’s calls at home.”
What Prospective Students Should Know About ELMAC: Deepika mentioned employers’ knowledge of the ELMAC program, Said one hiring principal, ‘Well, if someone can come out of ELMAC with flying colors, then there’s nothing that person can’t do.” Also, Deepika found every class session valuable. “There’s never a dull moment. It’s hard work, but you come out feeling that you accomplished a great deal. It’s very rewarding.”
