College of Education News

Carrying on the family tradition

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Lydia Otten transferred to Missouri State University after getting her associate’s degree in teaching at East Central Community College (ECC) near her hometown of New Haven, Missouri.  

She is majoring in elementary education and started her classes in fall 2022.  

Otten knew Missouri State was where she wanted to be after her first visit.  

“When I toured the campus, it already felt like home,” Otten said. “I had the feeling it was where I was meant to be.” 

Her parents attended Missouri State, and her father was also a transfer student from ECC. Otten said they influenced her decision to transfer to Missouri State because they loved their experience so much.  

From one great school to the next 

Though Missouri State felt like home, Otten was still nervous to transfer schools.  

“I had such a good time at ECC, and I was sad to leave because I loved their education department,” she said. “When I transferred, I was afraid the professors at MSU would be distant and wouldn’t want to get to know me.” 

Her professors proved her wrong after her first week on campus.  

“My professors are amazing and make me feel comfortable,” she said. “They want to get to know me, which is refreshing to see.”  

But her appreciation for Missouri State extends beyond the professors.  

“One of my favorite parts of the day is the walk to and from class and looking at the views,” Otten said. “And I have met and connected with so many people.” 

She added that her courses have been informative and exciting.  

“I’ve learned so much, and I’m excited to apply this information when I teach,” she said. “I’m also getting experiences I never thought I would have, like watching co-teaching in action.” 

Overall, Otten said she is thrilled with her transfer experience, and she is looking forward to the rest of her program.  

Lifelong dream on the verge of coming true 

Otten has always wanted to be a teacher. She loves the classroom environment and watching children have “a-ha” moments. 

“My mom is an elementary teacher, and she has been one of my biggest influences,” Otten said. “I was her teacher cadet in high school, and watching her in action was inspiring.” 

Otten wants to create supportive environments for her students, just as her teachers have always done for her.     

“I want to help my future students grow academically, but I also want them to have fun and know they are loved,” she said. “I cannot imagine doing anything else other than teaching.” 

Otten cannot wait to have her own classroom after she graduates in May 2024. She is grateful that her program at Missouri State allows students to practice their teaching alongside their coursework.  

“We aren’t just making lesson plans to make them. We’re also getting to teach them, and I’m so excited!”  

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MSU alumna goes above and beyond

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Christy Osborne, a recent graduate of Missouri State University who teaches at Central Park Elementary, was recognized for her outstanding teaching.  

She was awarded the Teacher of the Year for the Monett School District.  

Osborne graduated from Missouri State in May 2022 with a master’s in elementary education and a graduate certificate in dyslexia. She is currently in her 10th year of teaching third grade.   

Osborne’s colleagues nominated her for the award because she goes above and beyond for her students.  

Using her passion to help others 

Several years into her teaching career, Osborne believed she had more to learn to be the best teacher for her students. She enrolled in the master’s program while teaching full-time. 

However, during the beginning of her coursework, she did not feel driven. She felt that her priorities needed to be fully on her teaching career, so she put the program on hold.  

She later noticed that some of her students were showing dyslexic qualities and realized she did not have the training to teach them.  

“The students felt dumb, and they thought something was wrong with them,” Osborne said. “I knew I needed more specialized training on how to help these students realize that they are smart and help them succeed academically.” 

When she discovered that Missouri State had a graduate certificate in dyslexia, she rejoined the program. She thought it was what she needed to help the struggling readers she sees every day.  

“Once I heard about the dyslexia certificate, I knew I had chosen the right college and picked up right where I left off,” Osborne said.  

During the last year of her program, she put what she learned from her studies into practice and won Monett Teacher of the Year.   

Asking for help to become a better teacher  

Throughout Osborne’s teaching career, she learned the importance of asking questions. 

“One of the most challenging aspects when I began teaching was asking for help,” Christy said.  

“Once I got my degree, I thought I should know exactly what I needed to do. I thought that if I asked too many questions, it meant that I was not a good teacher.”  

Osborne started talking with other teachers a few weeks into her first year of teaching and admitted that she felt overwhelmed. She discovered that she was not alone in her struggles.  

“After seeing teachers with years of experience still asking questions, I realized that in order to learn, you must continue to ask questions.”

Osborne’s ability to ask questions and admit when she needs help has allowed her to develop extraordinary teaching skills.   

She uses these teaching skills to help her students thrive in their academic and personal lives.  

“Making a difference in the day-to-day lives of my students is the most rewarding part of being a teacher,” Osborne said. 

“But to say that teaching is rewarding is not enough. Teaching students to be the best person they can be is the most important task teachers face.”  

As a recipient of the Monett Teacher of the Year award, Osborne has learned how to help students be the best version of themselves.  

Advice for future teachers 

Osborne advises future teachers to stick with their career through the difficult times. She said that teaching will be hard, physically and emotionally, and they will be thoroughly exhausted.  

But the challenges will be worth it. 

“The sparkle in the student’s eye when they overcome a struggle to understand something, the voice of confidence when the quiet student raises a hand to give an insightful answer and the smile on the students’ faces make the difficult parts of teaching seem so unimportant,” Osborn said. 

“These children are the future of our world. We make today better for our students; they make tomorrow better for all of us.”

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Uplifting others through music

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Nothing can break the stride of Missouri State University alumnus Matthew Ketteman, Lee’s Summit’s 2020 Teacher of the Year.  

The Longview Farm Elementary music teacher, Ketteman recently created a back-to-school video for students. To the tune of artist Matthew Wilder’s 1983 hit, “Break My Stride,” Ketteman inspires pupils “to keep on movin’,” despite uncertainty surrounding education in the time of a pandemic.  

“This message has spread across Kansas City and beyond to encourage educators and students who are struggling through their back to school transitions,” Ketteman said. “It’s been wonderful seeing people react to the positive message we collaborated to create — even Governor Parson was uplifted.” 

Terrific teacher

Ketteman learned in July that he was selected to receive Lee’s Summit’s highest honor for teachers, according to the district’s website. He later applied to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for the 2021 State Teacher of the Year award. He was selected as one of seven finalists in August.  

Ketteman has since reached out to people and organizations that guided him throughout his career, he said. 

“My hope of reaching out to MSU is to encourage and thank the university for its excellent education and experiences,” Ketteman said. “It allowed me to prepare for this amazing occupation of bringing joy to children through music.”  

A collaborative effort 

Ketteman additionally recognized three MSU alumni who helped create and made appearances in his video. Shawn Harrel is a 2000 music education graduate and a digital media technology instructor for Lee’s Summit. Brandon Johnson is a 2003 music education graduate and the assistant director of bands for Lee’s Summit West High School.  

Ketteman also thanked his wife, Kimberly Ketteman, a 2005 communications graduate. Ketteman said his wife was heavily involved with him in helping found MSU’s a cappella groups, Beartones and A Cub Bella.  

 

Matthew Ketteman and his wife, Kim, during their Missouri State days.
Matthew and Kimberly Ketteman met during their days at Missouri State.

“We have not lived in Springfield since college, but it still feels like home whenever we return to visit,” Ketteman said.  

Ketteman thanked Missouri State for playing a vital part in his career. 

“As educators, we often don’t get to see the fruition of what we do,” he said. “What you do impacts the world. Thank you for being such a large part of mine.” 

A committee held virtual interviews with each Missouri Teacher of the Year finalist Sept. 1, according to the DESE website. The winner, finalists, semifinalists and Regional Teachers of the Year will be honored during an Oct. 15 event. The new Missouri Teacher of the Year will serve as the state’s nominee for the 2021 National Teacher of the Year.