Neag School students completing the UConn Administrator Preparation Program (UCAPP) this spring presented their change projects — the program’s signature capstone assignment, in which students identify a need or opportunity for school improvement and work toward positive change — during the 6th Annual Change Project Day.

The University had originally planned to conduct remote learning for two weeks following spring break, but growing health concerns led to a fully online transition for the Spring 2020 semester. UConn faculty members, some of whom had never administered remote courses before, had to transition their coursework quickly to align with the new remote teaching style. Neag School alumna Karen Skudlarek ’88 (BUS), ’16 MA and her colleagues at CETL have been instrumental in the process.

“Sport went from being kind of like a safe haven [for me] to something that transformed into something that I really value, but really wanted to pour into others,” Batouly Camara said. “I understood what it did for me at a young age, and I’m still forming what it means to me now. But I know that it’s a huge part of everything that I do and everything I want to do in the future.”

As a psychologist and the mother of two college-aged students, I am concerned about my children’s future emotional well-being. I know that the late teens to early 20s are a time when the majority of many lifetime mental health disorders take hold.

“I am proposing … that we need to adopt a different approach to school and curriculum during the three or four months this lasts,” says Elena Sada, a doctoral student in curriculum and instruction at the Neag School.

Our Neag School Class of 2020 will be remembered as one of UConn’s most resilient graduating classes ever.

“I will forever be grateful that I chose this prestigious institution to shape me into the educator I am today.”

“I aspire to be a teacher who focuses on making meaningful connections with my students and emphasizes the importance of including engaging and socially conscious content.”

“I aspire to be the best version of myself and be a continuous learner throughout life, and I want to positively impact others and inspire them to be become their best version, too.”

“UConn has given me the communication skills, creativity, leadership skills, and helped to spark a passion for my career as an educator.”