Colavolpe had to complete a 50-day student teaching period as part of her graduate program, but she had other plans.

“I earned the incredible opportunity of being fully hired by Guilford Public Schools as an elementary Spanish teacher due to my educational background,” said Colavolpe. “This took the place of my typically required internship experience. I went through a three-round interview process, with the initial interview being conducted by personnel at the school, a model lesson where I taught for 30 minutes to a current group of students and an interview with the superintendent.”

Colavolpe harnessed the skills she gained in both her Spanish and elementary education programs at Quinnipiac to successfully conduct Spanish lessons for students in grades 1-4 at A.W. Cox Elementary School and Guilford Lakes Elementary School.

She noted that she is grateful for her advisers for playing a huge role in assisting her with fitting the position into the certification requirements for Connecticut.

“My favorite part of the experience has been building relationships with my students and watching them grow so much throughout the school year,” she said. “I strive to take a multi-sensory approach that allows students to learn in a way that best suits their needs.”

Colavolpe’s students in all four grade levels approach learning new material with excitement, taking on challenging tasks with enthusiasm and curiosity, she said.

“As long as I am inspiring young learners, I am fulfilled,” said Colavolpe. “I plan to continue teaching at the elementary level and would love to have the opportunity to teach in a bilingual program down the line.”

None of this would be possible with her Quinnipiac professors, she explained.

“My professors at Quinnipiac have bestowed a wealth of knowledge on me to be able to effectively complete my first year of teaching,” said Colavolpe. “They have ensured that I am prepared to cultivate successful students.”