Careers in Education

Erin Whitlock

Structured Learning Center Teacher/Educator
Agnes Stewart Middle School
Springfield, Oregon

Accolades: Nominated for Springfield’s Teacher of the Year/A Champion in Education Award
Recognized, with her students, at Springfield’s first annual Film and Podcasting Festival for films advocating support services for animal welfare

Education:
Bachelor of Arts, 2003, English Literature, University of Oregon
Master of Education, 2005,  Special Education, University of Oregon

Erin Whitlock originally thought she’d like to work in legal advocacy for students with developmental disabilities. But after consulting some friends in the field, she decided to be proactive and make a tangible impact on people with disabilities: She chose to work directly with students who have emotional or behavior disorders.  

Teaching in a self-contained middle-school classroom, Whitlock’s curriculum provides training in vocational, social, and life skills as well as basic academic subjects. “I do a lot of co-teaching, co-planning, and working with my colleagues on supporting students with emotional or behavior support needs in all environments of our school,” says Whitlock. “I find this really engaging. Problem-solving skills are a must, and it’s great to learn from your colleagues and collaborate in an effort to support students.” She says she also makes use of her UO College of Education connections by working with students from the university to practice curriculum or behavior modification techniques in her class.

“Teachers are miracle workers,” says Whitlock. “I see my colleagues every day squeeze more and more into less and less, and keep that smile on their faces and more importantly, their students' faces. My experience at the University of Oregon gave me the real-world experience I needed to get my students to smile as well.”