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Julie Donnelly, ELMAC ‘02
Sixth Grade Language Arts/Geography Teacher at Clague Middle School in Ann Arbor, MI
Julie has two children. Her husband, Mark, went through the ELMAC program two years after Julie.
Read Julie and Mark Donnelly's story.
Background: Julie, who has a background as a computer trainer of adults, is originally from the Flint, Michigan area. “Teaching was something I always wanted to do,” commented Julie. However, when Julie was first in college, teaching jobs were hard to find and she was discouraged from seeking a teaching degree. Ten years later, Julie decided to follow her dreams and applied to the ELMAC program.
Current Position and the ELMAC Experience: Julie is enjoying her middle school language arts and geography teaching experiences. “I love experiencing life through the classroom. There’s no other job where you experience life more.”
She uses the skills and knowledge she learned in ELMAC on a daily basis. “I learned to remember that teaching is not about ‘covering’ things. One of my professors said, ‘Look at the big picture. Don’t get wrapped up in ‘coverage’. What do I want them to remember a month from now, two months from now, two years from now?’”
Why ELMAC was right for Julie: The master’s degree and the one-year program were strong draws for Julie. “It’s a master’s degree, so I felt I was going forward instead of talking a step back by just adding certification onto my bachelor’s degree. Plus, I knew it was only a year and I could get back to contributing to my family’s finances again.”
Julie found the professors and field instructors [all of whom are former teachers] knowledgeable, credible and helpful. “They could draw from their own experiences,” says Julie, who found those experiences useful in learning to teach. “This is a rigorous program and teaching is a rigorous profession but I cannot think of any other program that can prepare you for your first year of teaching as well.”
What Prospective Students Should Know About ELMAC: Julie has lots of advice for prospective ELMAC students. According to Julie, if you’re going into teaching because you love learning and helping kids learn, then the ELMAC program may be right for you. If you simply want summers off, look for another career!
She wants potential students to know that the program is academically and personally rigorous. “Be ready to work,” advises Julie.” I carved out time every weekend to be with my family, but there wasn’t a lot of leisure time. So you have to be ok with that.” In the end, however, Julie has found that her work has paid off. “My first year teaching was easy compared to the rigor of the ELMAC program!”
