Kiara Stickney’s love for working with children has taken her all over the globe with the Peace Corps and as a Fulbright Scholar, but a calling to teach a bit closer to home brought her journey to Santa Clara University. Her time at Santa Clara has been characterized by personal growth and invaluable mentorship– read more about it below. 

Kiara’s Road to Santa Clara

Bay Area-born and raised, Stickney has always held a passion for working with our youth. Growing up, she held tutoring, childcare, and camp counselor jobs, but Stickney’s first post-undergraduate step towards a career in education was a stint in the Peace Corps. 

“During my time in the Peace Corps, I taught middle schoolers in Indonesia. I worked as a TA in college, but this was my first time working with younger kids, and I loved it,” says Stickney. “Plus, being immersed in such a vibrant culture, learning a new language, and creating meaningful bonds with my colleagues and students was so valuable.”  

In 2019, Stickney earned a Fulbright U.S. Student Program Grant, which brought her to State University of Tetova in North Macedonia. This gave Stickney useful experience teaching older adolescents and adults, and she followed up the experience by earning her first Masters in International Education from American University.

It was her former third grade teacher, an SCU alum and now her mentor, that gave her the nudge towards SCU. 

“While I really enjoyed teaching internationally, returning home during the pandemic made me realize that I should ensure I’m able to work with youth closer to home as well,” says Stickney. “My mentor was telling me about what a great fit SCU was for her, and how some of her favorite professors are still teaching. So, I decided to check it out!” 

The Santa Clara Experience

And now, as a current student, Stickney is glad she did. 

“The support and hands-on experience I’ve had while here has been essential to my personal and professional development,” says Stickney. “Bringing challenges I’ve had while teaching during the day to discuss with my professors in the evening has been valuable. They’re able to draw from their experience in the field to give sound advice. I’ve loved the mentorship, and being surrounded by people who love kids the way I love kids and love teaching the way I do.”

While the content knowledge from her classes is important, being hands-on in the classroom has been one of her favorite parts of the program. Stickney has even been able to complete her student teaching placement at a school she was already volunteering at prior to SCU: Los Paseos Elementary in San Jose. 

“As a student teacher, I’ve had the opportunity to teach second grade and a fourth and fifth grade combo class. I’ve enjoyed the experience of learning how best to structure learning when two grades are involved, plus being able to work with and watch the growth of students I met prior to SCU has been really special,” Stickney notes. 

In addition to her appreciation for the School’s flexible class schedules and modalities, small class sizes, beautiful campus, and its location allowing her to be close to family, Stickney is also grateful for the scholarships that have enabled her to attend SCU. 

“With the student teaching and classes, there’s little time available to work, so the financial support was crucial. One of the scholarships I received was also tied to a community service component, incorporated into the coursework I needed to take. This focus on community service was one of SCU’s values that really stood out to me and influenced my decision to attend,” says Stickney. 

Beyond the ABC’s

After SCU, Stickney hopes to apply all she’s learned at SCU to teaching kids in 2nd-5th grade. 

“The mentorship I’ve received at SCU has been so meaningful because it’s helped me learn not only how to support my students academically, but also how to teach them about life values. As a teacher, you’re helping your students navigate new social situations and regulate their emotions,” Stickney shares. 

“You’re giving them consistency, since you’re with them everyday, which isn’t something every kid has outside of the classroom. You’re building relationships with them and showing them you’ll continue to have their back. That is the kind of teacher I want to be, and the kind of teacher SCU has helped me become.”