Avery Maresca

“[The elementary education program] is very tailored to you. Even your four-year plan is very individualized with your adviser’s help.

-Avery Maresca

Avery Maresca aspires to become a K-1 teacher. When Avery has free time, she enjoys traveling, doing art projects, and spending time with her friends and family.

Avery Maresca creates her own experience in elementary education major, prepares for all aspects of the classroom

When Avery Maresca came to Iowa State University, she initially made multiple changes to her major. While working as a restaurant hostess her first semester of college, she realized that interacting with children was the most fun part of her job. This led Avery to change her major to elementary education.

“I realized that the kids in the school system today are the future leaders and future of our country. I do love kids, but it’s much more than that,” she said. “[I want to work in elementary] because those are the years that kids are really excited about school and really willing to learn.”

Avery knew immediately that the School of Education was the home she was searching for; the program is flexible and personalized, so she has been able to take classes that suit her interests.

“[The elementary education program] is very tailored to you. Even your four-year plan is very individualized with your adviser’s help,” Avery said. “Everyone’s story is different here, so it’s not just a cookie-cutter program.”

Teachers greatly affect children’s development, so Avery wants to be as prepared for her career as possible. She didn’t only want to take basic classes; she also wanted to learn about classroom strategies like seating arrangements, rule setting, and consequences. 

“A lot of classes in the program teach you how to teach, [but these classes] teach you the things that you have to learn over time, all the nitty-gritty stuff that people don’t tell you when you become a teacher,” she said. “I know not all programs have a class like that, so that’s another reason I like Iowa State’s [elementary education] program, because they give you a lot of information about things that not everyone talks about.”

Avery believes no student is the same when it comes to how they learn and the difficulties they face in and out of the classroom. She looks forward to becoming a positive role model for her students, and building relationships with them all. 

“I’ve never considered myself a creative person. But, being a teacher, that’s one of the main things — you have to be creative, not every lesson can be the same because students will lose interest. It’s been challenging to figure out how to use the creativity I do have and apply that to a lesson,” she said. “You have to have a strong backbone [as a teacher] because it has challenges unique to itself.”