2026 R2M Fellow: Krista Vance
Name: Krista Vance
Previous degree(s) awarded: B.S. in chemistry, international studies and modern languages (German) from University of Wisconsin-River Falls
Licensure area: Elementary education
Current teaching placement: 2nd grade teacher at Morton Elementary School in Onslow County
Why did you choose ECU?
I chose ECU because so many people at Morton Elementary recommended it when I started out as a TA there. I always wanted an advanced degree, but the timing never seemed right or achievable until now, and everything line up so well with needing to start courses in order to work towards my licensure and keep teaching, which I am thoroughly enjoying. I also really liked the cohort style and how logically the courses I will need were planned out already by the experts at ECU.
What is your motivation for earning a graduate degree in the education field?
I would like a graduate degree in the education field because I already have so many undergraduate credits, and graduate courses are the next logical step for me. As a young child, I often daydreamed of earning “Dr.” as my prefix, and it would be amazing if I could eventually fulfill that dream with an Ed.D. However, whether I ultimately obtain an Ed.D. or not, I genuinely cannot envision myself outside of the elementary classroom itself in any role and fully intend to either remain a classroom teacher, like I am now, or perhaps become a specialist providing support to students, whose first languages are a language other than English. I have studied many a languages and felt useful and proud to be able to provide translation support to students and families whenever needed. I truly have a blast teaching every day and wake up even a bit earlier than I typically did when I was in the military feeling excited to go to work every day.
Regarding the education field specifically, I never planned to actually become a teacher when I graduated college. After I had signed my military contract with the U.S. Air Force, I worked as a substitute teacher until my ship date to basic military training arrived. Since I was a brand new college graduate with no teaching experience, I was quite nervous about classroom management in particular and did not think that I would enjoy the job very much. Well, surprise-I loved substitute teaching and was so excited about my days at school that I would often stop by on my way home from work to tell my aunts, one of whom is a former art teacher and provided me a lot of teaching advice along the way, all about my fun days teaching!
While I loved learning, adventuring, and working in the U.S. Air Force as a Chinese linguist, I often thought about what I would do when my six year enlistment ended, and my mind always went back to teaching. Because my undergrad degree majors are not at all related to education, I feared that it would not be logical or easily possible to get on a path to become a teacher. I am also very concerned about wisely and carefully utilizing the GI Bill I earned through my military service, and since I am an R2M Fellowship recipient, I’m appreciative that I’ll be able to one day use my GI Bill to further expand my continued development as an educator in a way that maximizes the support I can provide my future students, school, and community. Additionally, being able to hold onto my GI Bill for future use will perhaps one day allow that little Wisconsin dairy farm girl, who never expected to become a teacher, the opportunity to achieve her childhood dream of earning the title of “Doctor.”