Master's student receives Promising Master of Arts in Teaching award

Michelle Meza ​is a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) candidate pursuing  her single subject teaching credential in social science.

Meza received a Promising Master of Arts in Teaching award at the School of Education's 2019-2020 Scholarship Awards Ceremony on November 1.

Promising Master of Arts in Teaching awards, provided through a Hispanic Serving Institution grant from the U.S. Department of Education, support students who demonstrate the potential to become inspirational teachers.

"I definitively decided to pursue a career in teaching when, as an undergraduate student at UC Irvine, I realized for the first time that my K-12 education was subpar in comparison to my peers due to my socioeconomic status determining the quality of school that I could attend." 

"As the daughter of immigrant parents who were not formally educated in the U.S., the world of education was nebulous and difficult for me to navigate alone, and the resources available for college-bound students in my community were scarce. I am where I am today in spite of my circumstances, which is why I want to be a teacher to help all students reach their full potential. My goal as a teacher is to work with students in underserved communities and provide them with the education and the resources that all students deserve to have. "​