When Teaching ‘Doesn’t Feel Like Work’
| by Hannah Sparling
As a child, Chad Stephens had his heart set on joining the United States Marine Corps. His dad was a Marine, and Stephens spent his childhood living in Egypt, Japan, Israel, New York, and more. His grandfather and great grandfather were also in the military, so Stephens grew up hearing military stories and dreaming of his own future.
The problem? Stephens’ eyesight wasn’t good enough to clear the Marine Corps’ medical exam. So, it was on to Plan B.
Stephens went to college in Michigan and joined the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program (ROTC). His hope was to use that as a path to join the U.S. Army, but three years into the program, it was time again for his medical exam. He got the same result: His eyesight was disqualifying.
On to Plan C.
Stephens finished his bachelor’s degree in history and joined the Michigan State guard (MI-VDF) as a captain. He was in the state guard for about seven years, and that satisfied his dream of a military life, he said. But by that point, he was also ready for something new. It was time for Plan D.
Chad Stephens during his time in the Michigan State guard (MI-VDF)
‘Adjuncts, Adjuncts, Adjuncts’
After earning his bachelor’s degree, Stephens went back to school for his master’s in history, with the long-term plan of becoming a professor. He started out as a substitute history teacher for K-12 schools. Then he got a job as an instructor at an online school and then a part-time teaching job at Northern Michigan University, where he earned his degrees.
“But it was really hard to find a full-time associate professor job,” he said. “Everybody was looking for adjuncts, adjuncts, adjuncts. No benefits.”
Stephens met his wife, who is originally from China, at NMU as well. She had just graduated and was having trouble finding a job in the U.S. that would sponsor her work visa. Since Stephens was also struggling to find a job with benefits, the couple made a decision: They would move back overseas to China. Stephens started applying for jobs teaching English as a foreign language, and he and his family have been in China for the past eight years.
Stephens with his wife and daughter
Earning His Teaching Certification
Stephens started his career in China as a teacher and was then able to move up to lead teacher and principal positions. It was good work, and his skills were in demand, but he was also incredibly busy and didn’t have much work/life balance.
Then he and his wife had their daughter, and the lack of work/life balance became even more of an issue. Stephens knew he could find more flexibility at an international school, but he also knew that to land a job like that, he would need to earn his teaching license. Up to that point, he only had his Teaching English as a Foreign Language certification.
“I was intrigued by Moreland University because I could do everything online while still working full-time here, while going through having a new baby daughter,” he said. “Rather than uprooting and moving back to the states, it was definitely more convenient and gave me more flexibility to do it on my own time.”
Stephens enrolled with Moreland in April 2025 and finished his certification program in December. He learned a lot through his Moreland coursework, he said, especially when it comes to differentiation and supporting students with different needs.
“I think that was my biggest takeaway from the teacher preparation course, and I think that helped me a lot when I did my clinical,” he said. “I was able to play around with creating new material based on students completing the same task, but completing it in different ways.”
Stephens with his students in China
Stephens is continuing with Moreland for his master’s degree, and in March, he’ll earn his M.Ed. in Teaching Multilingual Learners. He likes to have backup plans, and having his U.S. certification plus his M.Ed. will give him more options for his family’s future.
“Doing the license through Moreland and getting it through Washington, D.C., gives me that additional opportunity,” he said. “If I want to go back and teach in Michigan, I could look at the reciprocity process — all I’d have to do is take the Michigan state tests when I get back. … It’s kind of killing two birds with one stone, you know? I could use the license when I go back to the states, and I can also use it here internationally, and that’s kind of what I wanted to do.”
Teaching ‘Doesn’t Feel Like Work’
Stephens is currently teaching at a private school in China, but his long-term goal is still to get hired at an international school. He might like to pursue his doctorate in education, and if his family does end up moving back to Michigan, he might aim for a superintendent role. A dream job for him would be the superintendent role in his hometown in Michigan.
Beyond that, he just wants to do his best for every student he comes across. He initially thought he wanted a long career in the military, and maybe he would have thrived as a Marine. Then, he thought he wanted to teach adults as a professor. Maybe he would have liked that, too. But honestly, he can’t imagine loving any career more than he loves being a K-12 teacher.
“I’ve fallen in love with teaching kids,” he said. “Kids, they’re young, they’re still learning, they’re creative, they’re funny, they bring joy into the classroom.
“No matter what job you have, you’re always going to have your good days and you’re going to have your bad days. But not every job can bring you a sense of joy or make you feel like it’s not really work. And I think teaching, for me, when I’m in the classroom with the kids, it doesn’t feel like work.”
One of Stephens’ favorite notes from a student
If he ever starts to doubt his choices, Stephens flips through a collection of notes from his students, messages he’s saved over the years. His students call him “strict” but “funny” and thank him for teaching them and building their confidence.
“I don’t like to have spelling tests,” reads one note, “but I know that maybe it’s helpful for me in the future.”
Another calls his lessons “vivid,” saying the class had fun and learned a lot. “In brief. Thanks.”
To Stephens, notes like that are a reminder that, at least with some kids, on some days, he got through.
That’s enough to keep going.
Earn your U.S. teaching certification in as little as 9 months with Moreland University. From there, you have the option to add on an M.Ed. in as little as 3 months.
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