Caitlin Gipson – Class of 2013

Walking the stage, receiving the diploma and saying all the good-byes to teachers and friends is only the beginning. The end of high school means the start of college. To class of 2013 graduate Caitlin Gipson, finding the right college for her has helped build her career and opened up new doors.

Gipson is currently a student at the University of North Texas, and was recently selected to take part in the school’s Student Teach Abroad Program that partners with the University of Seville in Spain. This program gives the opportunity to student teach at a bilingual school in Spain for four weeks, which she will be take leave for April 19.

“I’m excited about this program because I will be able to have a first-hand experience of being immersed in a new culture, which so many of my future students will be experiencing while they’re in my classroom,” Gipson said.

Gipson discovered her passion for teaching young children through her close relationship with Jessica Taylor, a teacher she had for her freshman year Geography class whom she kept close with all throughout high school. Taylor helped her to get involved with the Ready, Set, Teach program the following year, which even contributed to Gipson receiving a scholarship for future teachers later on.

“After a few weeks of her first year of RST, Caitlin told me that she couldn’t imagine herself doing anything else,” Taylor said. “She was definitely hooked.”

Gipson chose to attend UNT because of their partnership student-teaching with Wylie ISD, and is currently splitting her time with a sixth grade world cultures class at Harrison Intermediate and with first graders at Akin Elementary.

“What I enjoy most about helping younger students is seeing their desire to grow and become the best versions of themselves,” Gipson said.” “I want each of the kids that come through Wylie to feel like they have support and resources to achieve all of their goals.”

By the end of her college experience at UNT, Gipson will be certified to teach pre-k through sixth grade, and also be certified to work with ESL students, which are those looking to learn English as their second, third or even fourth language.

Gipson encourages those in high school who are interested in becoming educators to join the Ready, Set, Teach program to decide if teaching is the right decision for them.

She also lives by the motto “Good teachers have high expectations for their students, but great teachers have even higher expectations for themselves.”

“Never forget that you’re a role model,” Gipson said. “You can either be a student’s inspiration or a student’s nightmare. Be an inspiration!”