Job Description
Some of our graduate alumni find careers as teachers and administrators in K-12 school systems, working in both public and private schools. As K-12 educators, these alumni work with students at the primary and secondary levels, often teaching English, but also adjacent disciplines like psychology and communication.
For a sample of graduate alumni currently in K-12 positions, please see below. More information regarding each alumni's career can be found by clicking on the name of the individual.
For more information on exploring career options, including how to do informational interviews in careers of interest, see the Graduate College's Career Exploration page.
Graduate Alumni in K-12 Teaching
| Alumni |
Discipline at UIUC |
Job Title |
| Leslie Crowell Coffey | Literature | English Instructor and English Department Chair, Emma Willard School |
| Esther Dettmar | Literature | English Instructor, Emma Willard School |
| Phillip Ernstmeyer | Literature | Teacher of English, University Laboratory High School, UIUC |
| Laura Koritz | Creative Writing | English/Psychology Teacher, Urbana High School |
| Erin McQuiston | Literature | English Teacher, Heritage Hall School |
| Elizabeth Majerus | Literature | Executive Teacher of English and Director, University Laboratory High School, UIUC |
| Valerie O'Brien | Literature |
Teacher of English, Gender Studies, and Social Justice, University Laboratory High School, UIUC |
| Carl Thompson | Literature | Cardinal O’Hara High School, Buffalo, NY |
Graduate Alumni in K-12 Administration
| Alumni |
Discipline at UIUC |
Job Title |
| Leslie Crowell Coffey | Literature | English Department Chair and English Instructor, Emma Willard School |
| Elizabeth Majerus | Literature | Director and Executive Teacher of English, University Laboratory High School, UIUC |