How Paulina Demetriou went from Social Worker to Art Teacher
| by Alex Skov
Paulina Demetriou knows she applies many of the same skills in her daily routine as a teacher that she used during her previous social work career, when she would occasionally work in schools and get a glimpse of what professional life looked like in a learning environment. When the COVID-19 pandemic upended the world and Demetriou left social work to help a sick family member, it made sense that she eventually found herself exploring opportunities in education.
Things really began clicking when Demetriou’s initial experience as a long-term substitute in an elementary art classroom in Atlanta, Georgia, gave her an avenue to combine her passion for creativity with the opportunity to support children.
“I loved subbing. I loved every day being a little different,” Demetriou recalled, “but when I found the art room, I realized I’d rather teach art than general classes, so at that point I was very excited to kind of stay in that room. I wanted to keep going and it was nicer to build more permanent relationships with the kids rather than the day-to-day of just going in and out of schools.”
Merging Social Work with Teaching
Demetriou’s background in social work uniquely prepared her for the challenges of teaching. Working in a low-income school with high turnover, she quickly recognized how her previous skills could help her connect with students — and how creating strong student-teacher relationships could help bring security and joy into the classroom.
“It’s really fun to see kids just kind of let loose creatively, but at the same time I feel like there’s something really therapeutic in art and that’s where the social work and working at a low-income school kind of comes into play, like giving them a space to feel safe enough to create,” she said.
One of the biggest transferrable skills that Demetriou has brought into her teaching practice from social work is meeting her students and their family members on their own terms.
“When people come in without acknowledging that these kids see a lot of trauma…and so the stability that we can offer in the schools is great, but also just giving them a little bit more grace to know where they’re at and where to meet them,” Demetriou said.
The creative element of art is obviously important, too, providing Demetriou’s students with a therapeutic outlet to express themselves.
“When you’re a kid, you don’t have all the things that we have as adults holding us back, all the insecurities,” she explained. “They’re just more willing to play and enjoy their creative side.”
Seamlessly Becoming a Certified Teacher
Although Demetriou loved being in the classroom as a sub, she knew that to secure a long-term position, she needed to earn her Georgia teaching certification. That’s when she found Moreland University’s TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program. The program’s flexibility and rolling admissions helped her become certified quickly and get hired into a full-time, permanent teaching role in the same art classroom where she had already been working.
“I liked how seamless Moreland’s program was,” Demetriou said. “It just seemed like I could get in and [get] done in the same school year that I started [my] long-term job, so there was kind of no wait to enter — like I didn’t have to wait half a year for fall to start or something. That was really cool. It seemed like the transition was really easy.”
Demetriou credits the program’s 100% online format with allowing her to continue working while completing her coursework, giving her the chance to implement new skills and strengthen her teaching practice in real-time.
“I think that being in the classroom while taking the [TEACH-NOW] classes was what helped me develop as a teacher so much more,” Demetriou reflected. “As a sub, I relied a lot on just building relationships with the kids and…[now] I feel proud to say that I am educating them on art, education, and leaving little snippets and planting seeds for them to grow these skills as they mature and grow up.”
Balancing Career, Certification, and Life
Transitioning careers while pursuing certification and maintaining a work-life balance can feel overwhelming for some people on their way to becoming a teacher. However, Demetriou found a system that worked for her.
“One thing I was doing was just weekend work [for TEACH-NOW] and…to do my things that help my mind, I found that I did not do much Moreland during the week at all,” she said. “[Coursework] was all stuff I could get done on the weekend so that I still had my self-care routine during the week to make doing a program and a job work, so I think that setting boundaries helped me.”
Advice for Career Changers Considering Teaching
Another reason that Demetriou’s transition into teaching felt smooth was that her previous career didn’t seem like a perfect fit, even though she had earned both her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in social work.
“I never felt my niche in social work. Everything always seemed a little uncomfortable,” Demetriou said, echoing a sentiment that many career changers share, “and then when I found teaching, it just seemed so much more comfortable to be in that setting.”
Demetriou encourages others who are interested in exploring teaching through substitute work — or to just go for it.
“If you’re questioning it and you want to try it, subbing is a great way to get your feet wet,” she advised, “but also if it feels comfortable, if it feels good, just kind of go with it.”
Looking Ahead
Having recently finished her fourth year as an elementary art teacher, Demetriou is pleased with how her career change has turned out.
“I am very happy where I am,” she said with a smile. “I like working with the kids, I like my job, and I don’t think a lot of people can say that.”
For Demetriou, it seems that helping young students channel their creativity and find joy in learning is what she’s meant to do.
“I found something recently where I had written on my high school transcripts that I wanted to be a teacher, and then I guess I just forgot about it when I went to college,” she said, “but I think that if you are meant to be somewhere, you end up there. It’s just kind of how life works, right?”
Moreland is ready to support you and your teaching goals. Complete your free application to our 100% online 9-month TEACH-NOW Teacher Certificate Preparation Program or one of our 12-month master’s degree programs today. It takes less than 15 minutes to take this important step in your teaching journey.
Moreland Supports Career Changers on the Path to Teaching
Between making the bold decision to move to another country and pivoting to another line of work, Howard’s story is proof that it’s possible to become a teacher in just about any circumstances. If you are considering a transition into education or want to grow your teaching practice with an advanced degree, Moreland is ready to support you with our 100% online 9-month TEACH-NOW Teacher Certificate Preparation Program and 12-month master’s degree programs. You can complete your no-cost application in less than 15 minutes and take the next step in your teaching journey today.
For more information about becoming a teacher, download our complimentary resource, A Career Changer’s Guide to Becoming a Teacher!
