The magic of a student teacher

Twenty-three year old Sarah Balian started the 2023-2024 school year at Amherst Regional High School as a student teacher from UMass working with Matthew Despres in the English department.

Five years ago, when she was graduating from high school in Westford, Mass., Balian knew she wanted to major in education and Spanish. “I saw myself pretty much exactly where I am now, which is really strange,” said Balian.

She started her teaching journey at ARHS primarily through “active observation” in August of 2023, fulfilling the requirements to do her student teaching practicum.

Balian began by teaching two of Despres’s classes in January but her role changed abruptly when English teacher Chris Herland took a leave for medical treatment in Quarter 4. Balian then began covering his ninth-grade English and his 11th grade Bible and Related Literature classes instead, as a long-term sub through the end of the school year.

Despite the challenging circumstances and compressed timeframe, Balian adapted and leaned into her love for teaching and education.

“I was grateful for the opportunity,” said Balian. “It was nice to start being paid because I hadn’t been paid as a student teacher. It was initially a lot to adjust to mentally, but all the teachers in the English department, and the department head Ms. Barber- Just, were really, really supportive and flexible. They also allowed me to teach material that I was more familiar and comfortable with and being able to put my own spin on the curriculum was important.”

In addition to receiving support from coworkers, Balian also credits her students for helping her transition from a student teacher to a full-time teacher at ARHS so quickly. “My students are awesome,” said Balian. “They gave me a lot of grace when I didn’t know what was happening because so much was new to me. We have both learned a lot about just collaborating.”

Some of Balian’s students had positive memories of her ability to empathize and work directly with their needs. “One time when working on a paper, I was having a hard time with my thesis and I asked her for help,” said Maddie Misra, an ARHS sophomore. “She sat down with me and worked through my ideas and helped me write down renditions of my thesis until I found one that we both felt encompassed the idea that I was trying to get across.” 

In addition to supporting and giving students access to their needs, Balian “contributed to a really chill and refreshing class atmosphere. She also always had us journal at the beginning of every class which was a nice daily ritual,” said ARHS sophomore Leah Kalman.

Balian already has a job for next year, teaching ELL in Everett, Massachusetts, and she is excited to become a part of that new school community.