When Cassidy Kopet returned to her alma mater Cleveland school last Monday as a fully-fledged teacher, she began her career with the same class she worked with three and a half years earlier when she decided to make a major college career change and become a teacher.
Kopet, a 2015 CHS graduate who completed her teaching degree a few weeks ago, was hired by the school as a long-term substitute for Emily Manser’s fourth-grade class. Manser will be out on maternity leave.
“Ms. Kopet will be an asset to our school,” said Principal Scott Lusk, who was a major influence in Kopet’s decision to become a teacher. “Through her coaching and past work experiences in Cleveland, she is well known to the community, staff, students and parents. She brings with her the latest pedagogy from her university training.”
On a fast track to a degree in Community Health at Minnesota State University, Mankato, Kopet, when her busy schedule would allow, worked as a paraprofessional at Cleveland school. She also coached junior high softball and volleyball.
“When I got to considering my final internship for a bachelors in Community Health, I began thinking to myself ‘What am I actually going to do with this degree?’”
As fate would have it, during her time of uncertainty, Lusk asked her if she would be interested in a week-long substitute paraprofessional position. The stint happened to be over her spring break, so Kopet—forgoing the traditional college trip to warmer climates—accepted. She worked in the kindergarten room all week.
“She was motivated to help the teachers she was working with and every student whom she interacted with,” Lusk said. “I saw that she was a natural with kids. I spoke with her a few times about how she would be a great teacher if she chose that as a profession.”
Lusk’s encouragement and Kopet’s love for her pupils—and their love in return—did the trick.
“By the end of the week, I found myself crying when saying goodbye to the students,” she said. “That was my turning point; that was when I knew I had to be in education.”
So the following Monday, Kopet made the bold move of switching her almost completed major to Elementary Education.
“I knew that she was following her heart and passion to become a teacher and was proud of her,” Lusk said.
But the change in direction didn’t come without a price. Not only would it delay her graduation, after completing the prerequisite courses over the summer, she had to wait a semester to get into MSU,M’s teaching program.
“To me, not making it on my first attempt was extra motivation,” she said. “In my heart, I always knew that education was my calling, and I was not going to let anyone try to persuade me differently.”
Then it took her two more years’ worth of education classes. Finally, she student taught from January to December 2020 in Tri-City United’s K-8 building in Montgomery.
“I taught fourth grade there with my amazing mentor teacher, Nyla Newton. Nyla and I experienced a unique fall semester, having to navigate through two class quarantines of distance learning while then transitioning into full time distance learning towards the end of the semester. Nyla is an incredible veteran teacher whom I learned so much from. I am so thankful for my experience with her and I would not be the educator I am today without her countless hours of support and guidance.”
Once again, fate stepped in. Right after Kopet graduated, a temporary position opened at Cleveland. She worked together with Manser in distance learning last week and will fly solo when elementary school starts back up, on line on January 4 and, she hopes, in person a few weeks later.
“I chose Cleveland School because home is truly where the heart is,” Kopet said. “Every time that I walk into CHS, I feel so loved by everyone around me. The love that your hometown gives you is irreplaceable. Growing up, the Cleveland community has given me and my family so much support that I had always hoped to return home to give back to the community that has given so much to me.”
For Lusk, the feeling is mutual.
“She will do great things. She comes to us with the highest of references from her cooperating student teacher mentor, university supervisors and from faculty at Minnesota State University, Mankato.”
Kopet, who hopes a permanent position will open at the school next fall, said one of her proudest moments has been all the support and love she is receiving from family, friends, and community members for joining Cleveland School.
“Without the influence of Scott Lusk, his constant encouragement to come into the best profession there is—even if it meant graduating late—I probably would not be where I am today,” she said.
Kopet is the daughter of Jaci (Voit) and Robbie Kopet and sister of Carter Kopet.