Knights in the Classroom

Ep 9 - Summer Cress: Elementary Education '22, Master of Arts in Special Education '23

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 11:51:44 -0400

Summer Cress is a Knight in the Classroom! She is a 2018 graduate of Franklin Central High School in Indianapolis and earned her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education in 2022 from Marian University. Summer continued at Marian by completing the 4+1 residency program where she earned her Master of Arts in Special Education in 2023.

Summer is an educator, a coach, and a role model for her students in and out of the classroom, so listen to how she is living out Marian University's vision to “transform lives, society, and the world” with her students.

(00:00) Knights in the Classroom intro

(00:28) Introducing Summer Cress

(05:29) Involvement in theater and tee ball coaching

(11:02) Decision to study education

(22:06) Growth as an educator

(24:59) Marian's impact on her teaching

(28:21) Challenges encountered

(32:14) Advice for someone considering the education profession

Ep 8 - Lyric Jones: Elementary Education '23, Master of Arts in Teaching '24

Sun, 08 Mar 2026 21:52:26 -0400

Lyric Jones is a Knight in the Classroom! She is a graduate of Hamilton Southeastern High School in Fishers, IN and earned her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education in 2023 from Marian University. Lyric continued at Marian by completing the 4+1 residency program where she earned her Master of Arts in Teaching in 2024.

Lyric is a dedicated educator who constantly focuses on her own growth, so listen to how she is living out Marian University's vision to “transform lives, society, and the world” with her students.

(00:00) Knights in the Classroom intro

(00:27) Introducing Lyric Jones

(03:48) Embarrassing moments in the classroom...and the gym!

(07:19) Decision to pursue becoming an educator

(10:52) The impact of the Marian residency program

(16:00) Teaching math and growing in literacy

(19:35) Growth as an educator

(22:07) Preparing 3rd graders for standardized testing

(27:57) Working with data as a new teacher

(30:22) Advice for someone considering becoming a teacher

(32:11) Building a classroom community

Ep 7 - Kain Rust: Elementary Education '21

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 22:00:37 -0500

Kain Rust is a Knight in the Classroom! Kain enrolled in the Fred S. Klipsch Educators college at Marian University after graduating from Perry Meridian High School in Indianapolis. Kain was a member of the Marian wrestling team and earned his degree in Elementary Education in 2021.

Listen to how Kain is living out Marian University's vision to “transform lives, society, and the world” with his students and the athletes he coaches.

(00:00) Knights in the Classroom overview

(00:29) Introducing Kain Rust

(01:04) Kain's teaching background

(04:25) Serving as a high school wrestling coach

(08:02) The best restroom duty teacher

(08:24) Reasons for choosing the teaching profession

(15:18) First year of teaching

(21:18) Griddy dance contest...in the cafeteria

(22:17) Growth as a teacher

(30:34) Impact of Marian's teacher education program

(33:15) Advice for someone considering becoming a teacher

Ep 6 - Taylor Grant: Elementary Education '21, Master of Arts in Teaching '22

Sat, 06 Dec 2025 16:34:15 -0500

Taylor Grant is a Knight in the Classroom! Taylor graduated from Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis and earned her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education in 2021 from Marian. Taylor then went on to complete the 4+1 residency program where she earned her Master of Arts in Teaching in 2022.

Listen to how Taylor is living out Marian University's vision to “transform lives, society, and the world” with her elementary students.

(00:00) Knights in the Classroom overview

(00:29) Introducing Taylor Grant

(02:05) Taylor's career background

(06:56) Reasons for choosing education as a profession

(10:07) First year of teaching

(13:55) Growth as a teacher

(17:50) Challenges faced in the early years

(24:57) Lessons learned from education program at Marian

(26:57) Advice for someone considering becoming a teacher

Ep 5 - Treanna McKinney: Elementary Education '23, Master of Arts in Special Education '24

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 09:59:54 -0400

Treanna McKinney is a Knight in the Classroom! She is a 2019 graduate of Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis and earned her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education in 2023 from Marian University. Treanna continued at Marian by completing the 4+1 residency program where she earned her Master of Arts in Special Education in 2024.

Treanna is a leader and role model for her students in and out of the classroom, so listen to how she is living out Marian University's vision to “transform lives, society, and the world” with her students.

(00:00) Knights in the Classroom overview

(00:27) Introducing Treanna McKinney

(00:51) My apology to Treanna for my embarrassing email

(03:06) Teaching career up to this point

(07:25) Coaching cross country and other extracurriculars

(12:14) Reasons for choosing to be an educator

(17:55) Advocating for pursuing the residency (4+1) program at Marian

(19:38) Singing over the loud speaker for the whole school

(23:22) Growth from beginning of teaching career

(26:50) Leading a professional development session for her peers

(29:44) Unexpected challenges of being an educator

(32:55) Impact of Marian's education program

(39:19) Advice for people considering the teaching profession

Ep 4 - Max Horrigan: Chemistry and Secondary Education '22

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 14:25:21 -0400

Max Horrigan is a Knight in the Classroom! Max came to Marian as a Carmel High School alum and graduated in 2022 with two degrees - one in Chemistry and another in Secondary Education. Listen to how he is living out Marian University's vision to “transform lives, society, and the world” with his high school science students.

(00:00) Knights in the Classroom overview

(00:27) Introducing Max Horrigan

(05:48) Favorite science lab to conduct with students (no fire involved!)

(08:54) Coaching cross country and ultimate frisbee and advising National Honor Society

(13:43) Reasons for choosing to be an educator

(19:53) First year of teaching

(26:47) Growth as a teacher

(36:48) Challenges in the profession

(43:25) Teaching in a Catholic school and the beauty of faith AND reason

(47:58) Advice for beginning educators

Ep 3 - Erynne Pope: Special Education '22, Master of Arts in Teaching '23

Sun, 10 Aug 2025 20:56:01 -0400

Erynne Pope is a Knight in the Classroom! Erynne came to Marian from Decatur Central High School and earned her undergraduate degree in Special Education in 2022. She then completed the 4+1 residency program where she earned her Master of Arts in Teaching in 2023. Erynne is an aspiring doctoral student with a passion for reaching ALL students in the classroom and in the larger school community. Listen to how she is living out Marian University's vision to “transform lives, society, and the world” with her special education students.

(00:00) Knights in the Classroom overview

(00:26) Introducing Erynne Pope

(01:14) Working with Society of Aspiring Minority Engineers (SAME)

(03:34) School experience up to this point

(07:53) Working with Special Olympics and Student Council

(09:31) Reasons for choosing teaching

(12:46) First year as a teacher

(16:13) Growth as a teacher

(18:42) Aspiring doctoral student

(20:15) Challenges being an educator

(24:33) Passion for urban education

(26:01) Appreciation for Marian's program

Ep 2 - Patrick Scheidler: Elementary Education '22, Master of Arts in Special Education '23

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 10:55:48 -0400

Patrick Scheidler is a Knight in the Classroom! Patrick attended Southmont High School in Crawfordsville, IN and is a 2022 graduate from the Fred S. Klipsch Educators College where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education. He then entered the 4+1 residency program and graduated with a Master of Arts in Special Education in 2023. Listen to how he is living out Marian University's vision to “transform lives, society, and the world” in his special education classroom.

(00:00) Knights in the Classroom overview

(00:27) Introducing Patrick

(01:09) Impact of Grandpa on wanting to become a teacher

(04:32) Navigating conversations with teacher naysayers

(06:48) Impact on male students

(13:22) Growth in the teaching profession

(15:03) Challenges as an educator

(23:38) Embrace not being perfect

(28:58) Role as a fitness coach

(37:34) Building Level Administrator license

(42:45) Dancing for the school dressed as...Princess Peach!

Ep 1 - Ellie Haydock: Mathematics and Secondary Education '21, Master of Arts in Teaching '22

Mon, 12 May 2025 20:30:02 -0400

Ellie Haydock is a Knight in the Classroom! Ellie came to Marian from Zionsville High School and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and in Secondary Education in 2021. She then completed the 4+1 residency program in 2022 where she earned her Master of Arts in Teaching while teaching as a resident at Guerin Catholic High School. Listen to how she is living out Marian University's vision to “transform lives, society, and the world" through her work in her math classroom.

(00:00) Knights in the Classroom overview

(00:26) Introducing Ellie

(04:28) Falling at a pep rally

(07:37) Impact of cadet teaching

(09:40) Digging up an old reflection on wanting to be a math teacher

(11:54) Making math "engaging" (and how that is different than "fun")

(14:47) First year of teaching

(18:24) Administrative support

(21:32) Growth as an educator

(23:42) Challenges in the profession

(27:24) Advice for someone thinking about being an educator

(29:35) Ellie's presentation at the Indiana Non-Public Educators Conference