Embracing the Call to Teach with Purpose

Posted October 14, 2025November 2, 2025 in Stories, Students, Teacher Education

Reading Time: 4 minutes

The energy of a first-grade classroom in South Jersey, is where Lori Braunstein is putting her dream into practice. Her clinical placement there marks the moment she has been working toward—turning years of persistence, redirection, and classroom experience as a paraprofessional into her first real steps as a teacher. She once pursued Law and Justice, but it was in education that she found her calling. Now, through the Teacher Education MAT program at Rutgers–Camden, Lori is preparing to lead a classroom of her own. Read on to discover what inspires her and how the MAT program is helping her grow as an educator.

The Journey Before Rutgers

My academic journey before I joined the MAT program was hectic. I have always wanted to attend school to become a teacher. However, I changed my major to Law and Justice, as most companies only hire people with experience. I struggled to find a career in my field. Then, I started working as a paraprofessional at a few different schools. I have worked with students in both special education and general education settings. This realization made me understand that I needed to go back to school and enroll in the MAT program at Rutgers.

I have loved every semester of my journey. Most importantly, the professors and advisors will not steer you in the wrong direction. They will help you, no matter what time of day it is; they are here for us.
Lori Braunstein

Why Teaching Excites Me

I have been drawn to teaching by a passion to help others grow, make a positive impact, make learning fun, and think of creative ways to help students learn. I also enjoy creating a rapport with my students and colleagues. Working in this field is very rewarding. It makes me feel happy knowing that my students feel good about their work and that they can overcome obstacles. It takes time and practice to do so.

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What the MAT Program Has Taught Me

The MAT program has helped prepare me for this stage by teaching me responsibility, time management, and how to meet deadlines for assignments. Having various types of tasks and formative assessments was a welcome change from the cumulative tests at the end of classes. In one of my many classes at Rutgers, I created an ABC alphabet book. Each letter had an object to represent it, making it colorful, bright, and memorable. I am holding onto my book until I have a future classroom where I can show it to my students.

Goals for Student Teaching

I hope to learn how to master creating effective lesson plans. I like to think of myself as a creative person. However, since lesson planning is new to me, I find it challenging to create a fun and engaging lesson plan for students.

Outside the Classroom

Outside of the classroom, I enjoy taking road trips, traveling, and exploring new places and surroundings. Traveling is a powerful form of education that offers hands-on learning experiences, such as cultural immersion, historical explorations, and numerous opportunities for personal growth through real-world problem-solving and broadening perspectives.