Academics People and Community

Commencement Profile: Claudia Campano

The top graduate from UM's School of Education and Human Development shines in the classroom.
commencement profile, student profile

"The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires." ― William Arthur Ward

Claudia Campano is well on her way to be a teacher who inspires. The 23-year-old graduates from the School of Education and Human Development (SEHD) with the top G.P.A. (4.0), a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education/Special Education Program and a minor in Psychology.

A Miami native and the daughter of Cuban-Americans, Campano learned early on that her future would be education.

"I always loved school and even though there was the stigma that comes with teaching about lower pay and all the negative that is said about teaching, when I got to college I realized that nothing really excited me like education," she said.

At UM she has thrived. She is described by her teachers as one of the most energetic, motivated and well-prepared teachers in the classroom. During her last semester she was a student teacher of a first grade class at Sunset Elementary School.

Her academic advisor Gina Astorini, associate dean of SEHD, said Campano’s lesson plans are unique and innovative; designed to maximize student engagement and differentiated for diverse learners.

Campano also used those skills during the summer. She was one of several students who participated in a UM-sponsored summer program in South Africa working collaboratively with sixth and seventh grade science classrooms at primary schools in Pretoria.

"That experience was amazing," said Campano, who worked with South African teachers in developing lesson plans and teaching classes.

"Claudia has a natural warmth and genuine desire to create a positive learning environment where all students have the same chance to succeed," said Astorini. "Her future students are very fortunate!"

Campano has accepted a full-time position as a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) teacher at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School in Coconut Grove.