story by Claire Miller
Schools often encourage parents to volunteer with school events, fundraisers and classroom activities.
For Ruth Guzman (M.A.T. ’24), becoming a parent volunteer showed her firsthand how educators can make a difference for students and their families.
“Seeing the positive impact I could make even volunteering inspired me to pursue teaching as a career,” she said. “I realized that education is not just about academics, but also a holistic approach: Building relationships with students and families, connecting them with resources, fostering confidence and advocating for students' unique needs.”
Guzman works with kindergarten and first-grade students with autism at Chesney Elementary School, and she’s able to put into practice what she’s learning in the College of Education & Human Development’s Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education program.
In this master’s program, she’s gained a more comprehensive understanding of developing lesson plans for students with autism and how research-based teaching practices can make a difference in her classroom.
“The knowledge and skills I have gained have enabled me to make a positive impact on my students' academic progress and behavior, earning the gratitude of their families and my school leaders,” she said. “This success is a direct result of the exceptional guidance provided by Georgia State University’s highly qualified instructors, who emphasize evidence-based instructional methods grounded in the latest research.”
Guzman graduates this December and hopes to become a mentor for new teachers. She plans to earn certifications in other areas, such as English to Speakers of Other Languages and dyslexia, that can help her reach a broader range of students.
She’ll also continue supporting the students in her classroom, encouraging them to learn something new every day.
“Working with students with autism brings me joy because I can discover creative ways to support them as if they were my own children,” she said. “The greatest pleasure is seeing them grow and celebrating their achievements, no matter how big or small.”