Mailen Soto: A Journey of Perseverance, Purpose and Impact

ATLANTA — The first time Mailen Soto (M.A.T. ’25) stepped into a special education classroom, she knew a career teaching students with disabilities was the right path for her.

“The way they communicate, the small steps they take and the courage they show when expressing their feelings are truly incredible to witness,” said Soto, who teaches Pre-K special education at Knight Elementary School. “Helping them find ways to communicate their needs, feelings and ideas opened something inside me that I had never experienced before. Supporting children with disabilities not only became my passion, but my purpose.”

A fellow teacher – who also graduated from Georgia State – encouraged Soto to earn her master’s degree, so she turned to Georgia State University’s Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education program to build on her teaching skills and learn how best to support students with special needs.

Her graduate coursework gave her a more detailed look at the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which outlines the legal requirements for special education in the U.S., and taught her how to develop personalized plans for supporting children with disabilities (known as Individualized Education Programs, or IEPs). But her favorite part of the program is its emphasis on every child’s ability to learn, no matter their disability.

“Progress may look different for each student, but growth is always possible with patience, compassion and consistency,” she said. “Georgia State taught me to celebrate small victories, understand each child’s unique needs and never give up on any student.”

Soto has worked hard to balance her master’s courses with teaching at Knight Elementary, working as a Registered Behavior Technician at a local behavioral clinic and raising her two children. Her dedication paid off this spring when she received the Ann Dixon Demonet Early Childhood Special Education Endowed Award from Georgia State’s College of Education & Human Development.

This scholarship, named for CEHD special education alumnus Ann Dixon Demonet, is awarded annually to outstanding students in the special education program.

“As a teacher, her classroom practices are impeccable, and she approaches her work with a continuous-improvement mindset that inspires both her students and colleagues,” said Clinical Assistant Professor Carina De Fazio. “Mailen represents the very best of what the Georgia State community strives to cultivate: perseverance, excellence and an unwavering commitment to ensuring her students live up to their highest potential.”

Outside of the classroom, Soto was recently granted U.S. citizenship – an achievement that means the world to her and her family.

“It felt like everything we had worked for was finally becoming real,” she said. “It meant belonging. It meant safety and stability for my children. It meant that all the sacrifices, long nights, tears and challenges had a purpose. Holding that certificate in my hands, I felt proud, grateful and stronger than ever.”

Soto will graduate this fall and plans to continue working in special education. In particular, she wants to better understand how teacher-to-student ratios can impact how a student with disabilities succeeds in school.

“In my first year as a special education teacher, I had 11 students between the ages of 3 and 5 with only two adults in the classroom. Working with such young children with diverse needs has shown me how challenging it can be to provide the individualized support every student deserves,” she said. “My goal is to continue making a difference in the lives of students and families and to grow into an educator who inspires, supports and advocates for those who need it most.”

— Story by Claire Miller