‘Find Your Marigold’: How a Maryland Math Teacher Built His Career on Community
Published: | by Alex Skov
Thomas Ebert didn’t originally want to work in education, but looking back, he sees signs that were pointing him to the profession all along.
As a Boy Scout, he kept climbing into leadership roles and helping younger members on his way to Eagle rank.
In martial arts classes, he helped guide other students, including adults, while working toward his black belt.
“I think, secretly, teaching’s been a pathway for me all my life,” Ebert said.
It just took him a while to notice.
Finding His Passion
Ebert initially wanted to be an architect, but breaking into the field was difficult and, ultimately, he realized his “passion wasn’t quite there.”
However, he did see some transferable skills that could help him professionally while planning his next move. It just wasn’t a move Ebert expected.
“I found substitute teaching as a job-filler for income, but I found myself wanting to take more assignments because I enjoyed it and going in wasn’t a job,” he said. “In fact, it was just something fun to do all day.”
Learning how to effectively manage classrooms at the elementary, middle, and high school levels was stressful, but Ebert “still came home excited” after a day in front of classes.
“I just fell in love with it,” he said.
While subbing without any formal teacher training, Ebert passed the Praxis exams for grades 5-9. His district gave him a conditional certification so he could work in the classroom more frequently while figuring out which courses he needed to earn his permanent license.
Then Maryland changed its requirements for teachers, as states sometimes do.
Frederick County Public Schools stepped in to help, organizing a seminar where teachers like Ebert could meet with several Educator Preparation Program (EPP) providers in one place and make a plan to complete their licensure coursework.
That’s where Ebert was introduced to Moreland University.
A Conversation, Not a Sales Pitch
To Ebert, it was obvious right away that Moreland would be a good fit.
“When I talked to them, it was a wonderful conversation. It wasn’t a sales pitch,” he said. “It was very me-centered, and the focus was on what I needed.”
That focus mattered since Ebert needed flexibility. He was working full-time with an unpredictable schedule, and other certification programs he looked at were offering classes on a fixed, rigid schedule.
Ebert enrolled in Moreland’s 100% online, 9-month TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program. He was able to build a schedule that fit his responsibilities and needs, where he could learn from instructors who understood what his day-to-day looked like.
“Moreland is relevant to in-class situations and administration. My certification teachers and every module teacher still knew what it was like to be a main teacher in the classroom,” he said.
Balancing Life and Teacher Licensure
Ebert budgeted time for his coursework across the evenings after school.
“I told all my friends, ‘Hey, I’m doing this, my social life doesn’t exist,'” he said. “Weekends were the only time to hang out, and if I didn’t show up, they understood.”
That’s not to say Ebert didn’t socialize throughout his program. He bonded and built relationships with the other candidates in his global cohort.
“I got blessed with a wonderful cohort crew. We melded beautifully together and we were all willing to help each other. We texted each other outside the classroom, set up a WhatsApp group, and it made the process so much more seamless,” Ebert said. “You still felt like you had a social life because you’re with other colleagues in the same situation.”
The cohort developed a supportive mentality that emphasized working together to find success for each individual member. It’s an approach Ebert sees mirrored in Frederick County Public Schools’ Rise and Thrive program for new teachers.
“In our very first year, they’re like, ‘Find your marigold,’ which is a flower that helps every plant around it,” Ebert said. “In my nine months with Moreland, my cohort was my marigold. Working at FCPS, it was my actual whole department.”
What Comes Next
Today, Ebert teaches 7th grade math at FCPS, and his advice to new teachers is straightforward: Don’t stay inside your own classroom. Show up to meetings and start conversations with other educators in the hallway so you can make genuine connections and, eventually, become someone else’s marigold.
As Ebert continues to grow, he’s planning to pursue a master’s degree with a focus on special education, with another master’s in teaching multi-language learners potentially in line after that.
“I want to be fully well-rounded and be that adaptable teacher, and just constantly find ways to make [learning] make sense for the kids,” he said.
Ready to write your own certification story? Earn your teaching license in as little as 9 months with Moreland University’s TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program — fully accredited, 100% online, with rolling admissions and monthly start dates.
Once you complete TEACH-NOW, you have the option to add on a master’s degree in just 3 additional months.
Apply for free (the application only takes about 15 minutes) and you’ll hear back within 2 business days.
