Kaitlin Felderman, currently of Delmar, Iowa, was raised in Grand Mound, Iowa. Like many experiences in her life, her path to entering the classroom was anything but conventional. During the time she was pursuing her undergraduate degrees, she got married to her high school sweetheart, bought her first home, and had her now two-year-old son, Asher Michael.

In addition to juggling being a student, spouse, and parent, Felderman also commuted back and forth from her home near Maquoketa to Iowa City, a three-hour round-trip, three to four times a week – illustrating her commitment and determination to successfully pursue her degree. 

With the support of her family, she worked online to earn her associate degree at Eastern Iowa Community College. This sparked her interest in pursuing more education and started her journey of becoming an educator before attending the University of Iowa.

“Growing up, I loved learning about the way the world got to where we are now,” says Felderman. “I think it's really interesting learning about how moments in time completely changed the trajectory of civilizations.” 

Felderman was selected as the student speaker for the College of Education Undergraduate Commencement and Teacher Education Program Recognition Ceremony Dec. 19 at Hancher Auditorium.

At Iowa, Felderman earned two bachelor’s degrees – one in social studies education from the College of Education's Department of Teaching and Learning and another in history from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.  

During her educational journey, Felderman gained an understanding of the critical importance of strong, positive relationships between educators and students. She learned early in her studies at Iowa that being an educator was the perfect career field for her.

“I knew from the first class I had with Mark McDermott,” says Felderman. “He is one of the best professors ever. I really enjoyed his class and seeing him modeling and creating a classroom environment that really valued you as a student. It really solidified that what I wanted to do for the rest of my life was to create and foster learning environments for students that maybe I didn't have as much growing up.”

McDermott, College of Education associate dean for undergraduate education and educator preparation and clinical professor, says he was equally appreciative of the opportunity to teach and mentor Felderman as a student in his classroom management course. 

“Kaitlin was the type of student that made it clear she was always looking to improve her understanding of the best way to develop the best learning environment for all her students,” says McDermott. “She is committed to becoming the best teacher she can and exactly the type of teacher we strive to prepare in our Teacher Education Program. “

Felderman learned a great deal, not only from her professors, but also from her fellow students through collaborate projects and working together. 

“The University of Iowa draws in people from everywhere, and learning from all of them was just incredibly eye opening,” says Felderman. “You learn so much about other people's experiences and the way that they view things.”

Felderman is currently finishing her student teaching in the Quad Cities at Bettendorf Middle School for her final semester this fall. During that time, she worked with the supervision of a cooperating teacher in the classroom, Nick Myers. This helped her work on classroom management skills, lesson planning, and collaborating in the professional learning community at the school district. 

After graduation, Felderman plans to work as a substitute teacher since teaching positions typically don't become available until the middle of spring semester. She plans to stay in Iowa and hopes to teach at a local middle school.

“The most rewarding aspect of teaching middle schoolers is supporting their growth during a crucial developmental period,” says Felderman. “They are starting to understand nuance and build on the fundamentals of their earlier formative years. Challenging them, watching them build skills for higher-level learning, and laying a foundation for their future success in academics and life is fun.”

Felderman says that her speech’s core message is that everyone can make a difference. 

“I know that a lot of times, we can undervalue the impact that we can have as an individual,” Felderman says. “But truly, one act of kindness or recognition or just a moment that you take time to connect with someone can really make a difference and make a change in their life.”