The Language of Learning
Ana Rodriguez Garcia did not always have her sights set on being an elementary teacher. However, after her experiences in the University of South Dakota School of Education’s Teacher Pathway program, she knew it was the place she needed to be.
Born and raised in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Garcia attended Roosevelt High School, where she entered her senior year unsure of what she wanted for her next chapter. Now, a dual Spanish and elementary education major, Garcia is in her final year at USD and working to complete her teacher candidate residency in May.
This fall, she hopes to be leading an elementary classroom of her own.
For Garcia, the journey to both education and USD all started in the Teacher Pathway program.
The Teacher Pathway program, established in 2017 as a partnership between USD’s School of Education and the Sioux Falls School District, is a unique opportunity for high school students to explore careers in education, gain valuable experience in classrooms and earn college credits through USD.
With a curriculum designed collaboratively by USD faculty and classroom teachers, Teacher Pathway instruction covers everything from the history of K-12 education to best practices in education and the classroom.
Entering the pathway program, Garcia knew that she wanted to take advantage of these unique resources while she had the chance.
“I had friends who had taken the program, and everyone said that Gina Benz was one of the best teachers at Roosevelt. I knew I wanted to have at least one classroom experience with her before I graduated,” said Garcia.
Benz is a teacher at Roosevelt High School and was involved in the creation of the Teacher Pathway program alongside other faculty and staff at USD and the Sioux Falls School District. Through the Teacher Pathway program, students can learn from high school teachers like Benz while earning college credits.
Once Garcia joined the program as a high school senior, the courses and classroom time afforded through Teacher Pathway and the guidance of Benz and other mentors led her to make elementary education the focus of her future, and to build that future at USD.
“The program really became a jumpstart for my passion for teaching. In the first semester we learned about the history of the U.S. education system. We had guest speakers, learned from teacher candidates and educators, and were able to visit campus and see what USD and the education program was all about,” Garcia said. “I was able to get into a classroom right away, even before I was 100% sure that I knew this was what I wanted to do.”
Garcia credits the support available to students through the School of Education with helping her refine her path and decide where she’s headed next.
“I don’t think I could be where I am right now if it weren’t for USD,” said Garcia. “They have helped me figure out exactly what I want to do and what are the best steps to get there and make sure I am on the right track. I’ve met with principals and administrators, attended events, made connections at local school districts – all thanks to the pathway program and USD.”
At USD, Garcia has expanded her interest in education to both English and Spanish, a pull that draws from her family roots.
“My parents immigrated here from different countries, and just seeing how much they struggled learning English inspired me to pursue a certification that represented not only my English side, but how much effort my parents put into both English and Spanish,” Garcia said.
Garcia completed her first semester of teacher residency in the fall of 2024 at Sonia Sotomayor Spanish Immersion Elementary School in Sioux Falls, a school serving over 600 students. The immersion program gave Garcia a chance to put her background and passion for both English and Spanish front and center. She will serve her second semester again at Sonia Sotomayor this spring, in third grade instead of first.
At Sonia Sotomayor, Garcia spends five days a week working directly in the classroom with students, all under the guidance of teacher and staff mentors invested in preparing candidates to become high-quality educators of the future.
Her time in the classroom has taught her valuable lessons about being both a teacher and a learner.
“It has been reassuring,” said Garcia. “I have become more confident with the students that I have, especially knowing that they are also learning in a whole new language. It’s ok if they make mistakes. That’s one of the best parts of being in residency: It’s okay to make mistakes, because at the end of the day I’m still learning too.”
Now, moving into her final semester of residency, Garcia looks again to what the future may hold.
“I see myself in these kids,” said Garcia. “I would love to teach in Sioux Falls. That’s where my family is. That’s where home is for me.”
