From Skeptic to Staff: Jon Dickerson’s Journey in Education
| by Alex Skov
It is rare for a university student to believe in their school’s mission so deeply that they return not just as an alum, but as an employee. That is the path Jon Dickerson took, though, when he completed the TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program kept thinking about how much Moreland University’s mission of helping teachers enhance their careers — and improve their lives — resonated with him.
“I Know How to Teach”
Before finding Moreland, Dickerson had already spent 10 years in the classroom and had already taught in multiple countries throughout Asia and Europe, relying on the profession as a way to see the world. Coming from a family of educators, he found teaching to be a natural fit and that his master’s degree in business administration helped deepen some of his subject-specific expertise. Simply put, Dickerson was confident in his abilities as an educator.
In spite of it all, Dickerson hit what he calls a “brick wall” in his career growth at a certain point because he didn’t hold an official teaching license. Like many teachers with years of practical experience but no certification, Dickerson was initially skeptical about going back to school since he believed he already knew everything about teaching after a decade in the profession.
Still, Dickerson enrolled in the TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program to formalize his training and add a U.S. teaching license to his resume. Then, 3 months into the program, he had a realization that shifted his entire perspective.
“I just realized, ‘Goodness gracious, I should have done this forever ago,’” Dickerson remembered. “It made me just a much more effective teacher and it showed me what I was doing that was wasted motion and really helped me become a more effective, in-the-classroom teacher.”
While helping highlight his opportunities for improvement, TEACH-NOW also validated the things that Dickerson was already doing well, allowing him to combine the valuable experience that he’d already gained with in-depth training for a transformative result.
6 Weeks That Changed Everything
For Dickerson, the program’s standout moment was a module on classroom management.
“I’m a big, loud person and I taught as a big, loud person,” Dickerson said, “but at the end of the day, often I was exhausted [and had] a little bit of a headache.”
TEACH-NOW’s classroom management module equipped Dickerson with the tools to adopt a more nuanced approach that relied less on volume and energy. Learning to be quieter and more intentional helped shift the dynamic in his classroom in a positive direction while saving him the headaches.
“I’m still a big, loud person, but in a soft way, so the kids were having a better time in the classroom,” Dickerson recalled. “I was having a better time teaching them.”
Building a Global Network
Dickerson’s other initial hesitation about enrolling in TEACH-NOW was the program’s emphasis on collaboration.
“I heard [that] as group work, and I didn’t want to do group work with anybody because I [had] been let down in the past in college,” Dickerson said.
Surprisingly, collaboration became one of his favorite parts of the program. Working with teachers from education systems all over the world as part of Moreland’s global cohort model created a supportive professional community. Five years after graduating, Dickerson still communicates with some of the cohort members he has never met in person, noting that one of his cohort members even offered to recommend him for a job in Tokyo based solely on the work ethic and values Dickerson had displayed during their time together in TEACH-NOW.
From Graduate to Admissions Expert
Dickerson’s experience with the TEACH-NOW program was so positive that he joined the Moreland University staff as an admissions representative, leaving the world of teaching in a classroom for the world of empowering fellow teachers to elevate their careers even further. He now spends his days guiding aspiring teachers through the process, helping them understand that earning a teaching license or master’s degree is about becoming the best version of the teacher you can be while realizing benefits like higher earning potential and career longevity.
Advice for International Teachers
If you are currently teaching abroad or want to start an international teaching career, Dickerson’s advice is straightforward and based on his own experience:
- Do your research and focus on picking the right school instead of just taking the first offer you get.
- Think about the next step in your career path.
- Get a government-issued teaching license to open the door to more job opportunities.
Whether you are looking to secure a position at a top-tier international school or simply want to go home at the end of the day feeling energized rather than drained, certification is a key to any effective teaching journey. Dickerson’s story is proof that the right training does more than just put a formal credential on your resume — it empowers you and changes your teaching practice for the better.
Are you ready to transform your teaching career? Learn more about how Moreland University can support you with our 100% online 9-month TEACH-NOW Teacher Certificate Preparation Program and 12-month master’s degree programs today. It takes less than 15 minutes to complete your free application and take this important step in your professional journey.
