Chelsea started her UCF journey as an elementary education undergrad. "Growing up, I came to visit UCF with my father. He was finishing his elementary education degree, so he took me to one of his classes, and from that moment on, I knew I wanted to become a teacher, too."

The classroom feels like home to Chelsea. When she finishes teaching her students at Idyllwilde Elementary School, she switches roles and becomes the student. She is in her second year in the curriculum and instruction doctoral program here at #UCFCCIE.

"Anytime I learn about a new teaching strategy in my courses here at UCF, I think of ways to implement it in my own classroom. It has made me a better teacher – a more culturally responsive one. I try implementing what's best for kids, not just teaching for test results; making sure that learning is meaningful and students are engaged, so they become inquirers for life."

Chelsea is specializing in English Language Arts; her research focuses on how transdisciplinary instructional practices can help move our educational system from a siloed approach to instruction that transcends the boundaries of disciplines.

"My research stemmed from not being satisfied with the way we were teaching writing. We're teaching it in a procedural way. My research focuses on how teachers can use a transdisciplinary approach and employ writing in other disciplines; how can we make education more holistic for students to see the connections between and across the disciplines? "

After graduation, Chelsea hopes to continue her research and join academia as a professor. She wants to teach, collaborate and learn alongside pre-service teachers.