By Jess Hawkins

Happy Wednesday Hawkeyes! Today we are back with another “Where Do You Work?” Wednesday, and we are happy to introduce our alumna Molly Cornelison.

Cornelison, from Van Meter, Iowa, graduated from the University of Iowa College of Education in December of 2018. She graduated with a B.A. in Elementary Education with endorsements in K-8 Reading and K-12 ESL.

She is in her first year as a certified staff member at Walnut Hills Elementary School in Waukee, Iowa, where she is a third-grade teacher.

Cornelison is excited to be working in the school where she completed her student teaching and is enjoying her first year as a certified staff member.

"So far I have loved building relationships with my students and building a positive learning environment that will foster a year full of engagement, adventure and friendships,” she says. “It’s also very rewarding to work with my team and other staff in the building, and learn from and alongside them”.

Cornelison credits the College of Education for helping her to realize her passion for teaching.

“The classes I took in the College of Education are what ignited my passion for teaching and gave me the chance to work with learners of all backgrounds and needs, and gave me the opportunity to have experiences in a variety of content areas and school districts,” she says. “I felt prepared coming into my own classroom because of the rich and diverse experiences I had throughout the program.”

Coming from a small town, it was important for Cornelison to find a college that fostered close relationships between faculty and students.

“The College of Education truly feels like a family. My experience at the College of Education made Iowa feel really homey,” she says.

During her time in the College of Education, Cornelison was a Hawkeye Teacher Student Ambassador.

Are you interested in being the next “Where Do You Work Wednesday?” or want to nominate someone? Message us on Facebook, tag them with #HawkeyeTeachers, or email us at educationatiowa@uiowa.edu.