Megan Nyberg

Megan Nyberg always knew she wanted to be a teacher. She also knew she wanted to get a master’s degree in teaching. When it came time to choose a program, Nyberg spent hours researching programs in an effort to find the right fit. “I ended up choosing Antioch because it shared the values I shared and it seemed like it would be a perfect fit,” she says.

During her graduate studies, Nyberg found the support she needed in her professors. “The professors I had were always willing to help anybody who needed it. We also created deep and caring relationships with our professors, and I feel as though I am still supported even after graduating.”

This support enabled her to work through the challenges that often accompany graduate work, as busy students juggle relationship obligations to family, friends, and partners, and school responsibilities and internships. “It felt impossible at times,” Nyberg says, “but making it through all of that was so worth it in the end, and one of the greatest challenges I have overcome.”

Nyberg’s advice to new and prospective students is to make organization a priority from day one and to make time for self-care. “Write everything down,” she says. “Make yourself a lot of to-do lists, and most importantly, make time for yourself. Self-care is something that gets overlooked in stressful situations but let me tell you, it cannot be overlooked in graduate school.”

Ultimately, receiving her master’s in teaching helped her get her teaching certification and increased her career opportunities. “I would not have gotten the job I have now without my degree,” she says.

A second-grade teacher in Issaquah, Nyberg is focused on providing equitable education for all students. “Reaching all students through culturally responsive teaching is what keeps me motivated,” she says. Nyberg loves teaching and is grateful for the ways her education at Antioch shaped her teaching and educational philosophies.

“I feel that I am 100 percent more focused on social justice as a major piece of my teaching philosophy, and that impacts the way I create lesson plans, how I interact with my students, and how I discipline my students,” Nyberg says.  “I feel I can reach more students now, and I have a more equitable lens.”