From Criminal Justice to the Classroom: Rosa Arjona-Medina’s Journey to Teaching 

When Rosa Arjona-Medina began her studies in criminal justice, she never envisioned herself in front of a classroom. However, today she is a dedicated educator with 17 years of teaching experience, driven by a passion that was sparked during her time as a graduate student. 

Arjona-Medina originally set her sights on a career in the government, completing both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in criminal justice. As part of her graduate program, she completed an externship with the Florida state attorney’s office, eventually being offered a full-time role. The pay was not what she expected, though, so Arjona-Medina instead began working for the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), where she estimates she spent more than 70% of her time on the clock in court assisting in cases related to child abuse and parental rights. 

Though the work was meaningful, it was also emotionally taxing. Arjona-Medina started considering other fields that she could explore professionally when a professor made a life-changing impression on her.  

“He took the time not to just teach us about the content of the class, the subject matter, but also [gave] advice, and I thought that he made such an impact on me that I wanted to do the same for other students,” Arjona-Medina recalled. “I think it’s very important that teachers not only teach their content but also inspire [and provide] guidance for the students.” 

Noticing the power that one teacher had to shape their students’ lives, this realization led Arjona-Medina to take a leap of faith into the profession of education. 

A Passion for Teaching 

Despite her deep roots in another field, Arjona-Medina found herself drawn to academia. To gain more practical experience, she began leading criminal justice classes at public and private colleges, where she found joy in teaching adult learners, witnessing firsthand how education could change lives. 

After working her way into administrative roles, Arjona-Medina eventually made another career transition — this time into high school education with Charter Schools USA. Since 2023, she has been teaching science full-time at a charter school in Miami, working helping students gain a better understanding of subjects like anatomy, physiology, and marine science. Having been used to working with adult learners, however, she has noted a definite difference between her former and current students. 

“When you work with teenagers…it’s very stressful,” Arjona-Medina admits. “I have 2 classes that have more than 28 kids.” 

The learning curve for working with different class sizes and age ranges isn’t the only thing she has had to acclimate to, either. Arjona-Medina wound up teaching life sciences courses only because the subjects she wants to teach — social studies, which would align more with her criminal justice education — are categorized as social sciences in Florida. As she works toward certification for the “social” part of that designation, Arjona-Medina is handling her current coursework gracefully and making sure to center student outcomes. 

“When I was assigned that, I bought both the curriculums and I started studying and reading,” she said, “and I’ve been doing great [because] it’s a responsibility for us to give [students] the best we can.” 

Pursuing Florida Educator Certification with TEACH-NOW

Recognizing the need to add a Florida educator certification to her credentials in her pursuit to teach social sciences, Arjona-Medina enrolled in Moreland University’s TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program, where the faculty is making all the difference in her learning experience. 

“[My current] teacher is wonderful. She makes things go a lot smoother, like her knowledge of the module activities and how she makes you feel,” Arjona-Medina said, “because she understands it [can be] overwhelming, but she managed it in a way that makes it a lot easier.” 

Thanks to that kind of faculty support and her dedication to teaching, Arjona-Medina is on track to complete her certification this summer. In the meantime, she’s appreciating TEACH-NOW’s 100% online format.  

“I like the fact that I can [take classes] in my house,” she said wryly. “In Miami, the traffic is crazy. Anywhere you go, it takes an hour. Being able to do it from home is a positive thing.” 

Arjona-Medina also noted that having discipline and being self-driven is key to success in working or taking classes remotely, and she advises future candidates to take those qualities seriously. 

“Don’t leave the [coursework] activities for the last minute,” she warned, “because if you let them accumulate, then that’s when it [can] become overwhelming.” 

Spoken like a truly experienced educator. 

Looking Ahead 

As she plans her next career steps, Arjona-Medina is weighing the options of continuing her work in a high school setting and returning to teaching adult learners. While nothing is set in stone yet, she does already have her sights set on achieving one other goal. 

“In terms of taking the opportunity to get another master’s [degree] in 4 months, for the amount of money that I’m going to have to pay, it’s a no-brainer,” Arjona-Medina said, referring to the fast-track Master’s in Education (M.Ed.) add-on program that all TEACH-NOW graduates can add to the end of their certification program. “I’m going to take the global education [specialization].” 

Already an experienced educator, Arjona-Medina continues to view every day and experience as a learning opportunity. 

“The more you know, the better it is for you,” she said with determination. 

Moreland University Can Support Your Teaching Journey 

From the courtroom to the classroom, Rosa Arjona-Medina’s journey is a testament to the power of passion, perseverance, and the transformative impact of education. If you are ready to make a career change and become a teacher or if you want to grow your current teaching practice with an advanced degree, Moreland can support you with our flexible, 100% online 9-month TEACH-NOW Teacher Certificate Preparation Program and 12-month master’s degree programs. It takes less than 15 minutes to complete your free application and take the next step in your teaching journey today.