We recently caught up with Cindy Tomeo, a 2014 alumna of the Associate in Arts Program in Wilmington, who graduated with her bachelor's in education in 2016.
Upon graduating from Glasgow High School in 2012, Tomeo was admitted to the Newark campus. However, wary of incurring debt, she elected instead to enroll at the AAP in order to take advantage of the SEED Scholarship.
Like many first-year students, Tomeo began her freshman year unsure about her eventual major. "I knew that I wanted to make a change and difference in the lives of others," she said. "I just wasn't sure what that would look like."
Tomeo's career goals soon began to crystallize, however, when she was inspired by a source close to home — very close to home, in fact: her mother.
"My mom is a teacher and she is my biggest role model, so I ended up working with her over a few summers as a paraprofessional to see what that would be like," Tomeo said. "I chose English education because I love how I can express myself through words. Words are a powerful tool, so I wanted to help others express themselves through writing as well."
Transitioning to Newark
After receiving her Associate in Arts degree in 2014, Tomeo relocated to the Newark campus to pursue her bachelor's degree in education. She gained additional classroom experience during her student-teaching placement at George Read Middle School in New Castle.
Tomeo was careful to structure an academic plan that would allow her to complete her degree in the traditional four years. AAP grads find that many majors can be completed in two years upon relocating to the Newark campus, but other majors can take longer to complete due to necessary course sequencing. Students are encouraged to work closely with their advisors in order to "finish in four." AAP Faculty Director David Satran credits Tomeo for persevering with her academic plan. "It's impressive that she completed her degree in four years, especially as she didn’t expect to be a teacher when she was admitted to UD," he said.
Upon graduating from UD in 2016, Tomeo was hired at Glasgow High School, her alma mater, teaching ninth- and 10th-grade English. She then joined the faculty at William Penn High School, teaching ninth- and 10th-grade English her first year. She is now entering her second year at William Penn, teaching 10th-grade and SAT Prep English.
After receiving her Associate in Arts degree in 2014, Tomeo relocated to the Newark campus to pursue her bachelor's degree in education. She gained additional classroom experience during her student-teaching placement at George Read Middle School in New Castle.
Tomeo was careful to structure an academic plan that would allow her to complete her degree in the traditional four years. AAP grads find that many majors can be completed in two years upon relocating to the Newark campus, but other majors can take longer to complete due to necessary course sequencing. Students are encouraged to work closely with their advisors in order to "finish in four." AAP Faculty Director David Satran credits Tomeo for persevering with her academic plan. "It's impressive that she completed her degree in four years, especially as she didn’t expect to be a teacher when she was admitted to UD," he said.
Upon graduating from UD in 2016, Tomeo was hired at Glasgow High School, her alma mater, teaching ninth- and 10th-grade English. She then joined the faculty at William Penn High School, teaching ninth- and 10th-grade English her first year. She is now entering her second year at William Penn, teaching 10th-grade and SAT Prep English.
Transitioning to Newark
After receiving her Associate in Arts degree in 2014, Tomeo relocated to the Newark campus to pursue her bachelor's degree in education. She gained additional classroom experience during her student-teaching placement at George Read Middle School in New Castle.
Tomeo was careful to structure an academic plan that would allow her to complete her degree in the traditional four years. AAP grads find that many majors can be completed in two years upon relocating to the Newark campus, but other majors can take longer to complete due to necessary course sequencing. Students are encouraged to work closely with their advisors in order to "finish in four." AAP Faculty Director David Satran credits Tomeo for persevering with her academic plan. "It's impressive that she completed her degree in four years, especially as she didn’t expect to be a teacher when she was admitted to UD," he said.
Upon graduating from UD in 2016, Tomeo was hired at Glasgow High School, her alma mater, teaching ninth- and 10th-grade English. She then joined the faculty at William Penn High School, teaching ninth- and 10th-grade English her first year. She is now entering her second year at William Penn, teaching 10th-grade and SAT Prep English.