‘It’s Brewing’: TEACH-NOW Grad Sees Impact in Classroom

It was during COVID lockdown that Nick George made up his mind: It was time to plant his feet and pursue a full-time career in education. 

He’d been half-in for a while — subbing jobs here and there, a long-term sub job during COVID — but it was time to go all-in. 

“I don’t know if it was because of the pandemic or was just my season of appreciation for the work that’s being done in education,” he said, “but it was like the lightbulb went on and I decided to be really intentional with my steps.” 

That led George to Montgomery County Public Schools, where he’s currently a special-education teacher at James Hubert Blake High School. He needed to earn his professional teaching license, so he enrolled in Moreland University’s TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program. 

Because of Moreland’s partnership with MCPS, George’s tuition for the TEACH-NOW program was fully covered. He graduated in November 2024.  

Fast, Flexible EPP 

Along with teaching full-time, George is a father of three: an 8-year-old, a 7-year-old, and a 7-month-old. He’s a husband. He’s in a band. And he’s active in his church. 

The bottom line? He doesn’t have a ton of free time, so when he was choosing his Educator Preparation Program, speed and flexibility were top of mind. That’s part of why he chose Moreland’s 9-month TEACH-NOW program.

It took him a few weeks to get back into the swing of being a student, and the program was challenging, he said. But it was also convenient, the lessons were clear, and he learned a lot. 

“The biggest thing TEACH-NOW prepared me for is to collaborate with my team,” he said. “And that’s something I struggled with, if I’m being honest. I would always try to do it on my own. But my cohort really empowered me to be humble and to get the help I need.” 

George has already recommended TEACH-NOW to a friend who teaches in another county. His one piece of advice, after completing the program along with his commitments to his family, band, church, and job: “Be prepared to lose some sleep.”  

“However,” he said, “the lack of sleep is rewarding when you get the insight, when that lightbulb comes on, and you get it. You understand how you’re going to approach this student or approach this lesson. It gives me goosebumps, because it feels like, ‘Alright, now we’re flowing.’”

Merging Passions 

George’s initial passion was music. He started playing piano at 6 years old and was in choirs and bands all through grade school and college. He started a go-go band, he plays weekly at his church, and he does voice and music lessons on the side as well. 

In fact, his initial major in college was music education before he switched and graduated with a degree in sociology. 

The more teaching experience he got through subbing, though, the more he realized he was passionate about education as well. He loves the moments when a lesson or skill clicks for his students, and he loves that every day is different. 

“And then, you know, on top of good benefits, insurance, and stability, I really do have a heart for helping people,” he said. “Being in the school system gives me the parameters to work in that manner, for sure.” 

At its core, George’s love for music is about communicating and connecting. But he connects and communicates through education as well. And sometimes, he merges the two, like with the karaoke club he started at school. 

When he thinks about whether he made the right choice, going all-in on education, he thinks about his students. There’s one student, for example, who last year was struggling and seemed disengaged. Rather than trying to force it — “I learned a lot last year about patience” — George stepped back and created space for the student to feel comfortable.  

This year, the student opened up and is talking about grades and how they can improve. They’re doing better academically and socially and even joined the school’s bocce ball club. 

“It felt like a realization,” George said. “Like, alright, the impact I’m making might not be felt immediately, but it’s brewing. It’s brewing.” 

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Earn your professional teaching license in as little as 9 months with Moreland University’s TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program. TEACH-NOW is 100% online, with rolling admissions and monthly start dates. It only takes about 15 minutes to apply.