Benjamin Lewis always knew he wanted to become a teacher, he just wasn’t sure what path would get him there. After arriving at the University of Missouri-Kansas City from the small town of Jamesport, Missouri, Lewis pursued a bachelor’s degree in studio art with a minor in theatre before discovering UMKC’s 4+1 Master of Arts in Teaching program.
Now pursuing his Master of Arts in Teaching degree, Lewis is preparing to become a high school art teacher while gaining classroom experience and building on the artistic foundation that first brought him to UMKC.
Through his journey, Lewis became deeply involved on campus. He served as a student ambassador for both the Honors Program and the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, participated in the Professional Career Escalators program and found opportunities to combine leadership, creativity and service throughout his undergraduate experience.
For Lewis, UMKC offered more than academics. Coming from a small town with a population of 570, he said the university’s campus environment and strong sense of community immediately stood out.
“When I toured UMKC, I immediately knew this is where I needed to be,” Lewis said. “I didn’t even tour anywhere else, I made my decision right away.”
How did you discover UMKC’s 4+1 program?
I knew that I wanted to be a teacher, but UMKC didn’t have an undergraduate secondary education program for what I wanted to teach. Originally, I thought I was going to have to take a nontraditional route and get an alternative certification later.
I heard about the 4+1 program while I was working as a student ambassador in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. My supervisor at the time heard about what my goals were and told me that’s exactly what the 4+1 program can do for me, and I was immediately set on it.
What is the 4+1 Master of Arts in Teaching program ?
The 4+1 program is essentially a way to get your teaching certification as well as your master’s degree in a shorter period of time. You get your bachelor’s degree in the subject you want to teach. For me, that was studio art. Then you’d transition into the Master of Arts in Teaching program and gain student teaching experience.
It’s especially helpful for students interested in secondary education because you’re able to focus deeply on your content area while also preparing to teach it.
What made you decide to stay at UMKC for your master’s?
Obviously, the 4+1 program was a huge draw. But I just love UMKC. It was my favorite place for a long time, and I wanted to stay because I felt like I was really making something out of myself here and to continue being a UMKC student. UMKC just felt like the right place to keep growing.
What has been your favorite part of the program?
My favorite part has been getting information that’s tailored directly to teaching your specialized area. I had a class called “Special Methods of Teaching Art,” where all the future art teachers came together and learned specifically about teaching art.
All we did was talk about teaching art. I was so excited for that class because I got to learn exactly what I want to do and get advice and ideas. Any new information just gets soaked into my brain because all I want is to improve and be better.
How did the Honors Program play in your UMKC experience?
I love the Honors Program. I became a student ambassador during my second semester at UMKC, and by my final year, I was basically the lead ambassador because I had been there the longest.
Coming from such a small town, I knew I needed to get involved somehow. The Honors Program gave me a way to connect with people and really become part of the campus community. I found really good friends through the Honors Program.
How did the Honors Program help you as a student?
My freshman year, I lived in the Honors Living-Learning Community, and that was incredibly helpful because I didn’t know anybody when I came to Kansas City.
I was suddenly surrounded by like-minded people who cared about their studies and wanted to get involved. Some of my first friends at UMKC were Honors students because they were the first people I met through orientation and housing.
What opportunities came from your involvement in Honors?
I helped run events, worked on recruitment and got involved with leadership opportunities. I also got to submit a piece of art to a national honors society competition, which was really cool because it let me combine my artistic background with the Honors Program.
The Honors Program gives students opportunities to grow academically and personally. It’s kind of like a lift for your education, you get extra opportunities, smaller classes and more chances to be involved in areas you are interested in.
Besides the Honors Program and the 4+1 program, how else were you involved at UMKC?
I was involved in the first cohort for the Professional Career Escalators program and worked as a student ambassador for the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. I also participated in events through the art and design department.
I’ve designed items for campus events, including honors T-shirts and a print design for an open house event. It was nice being able to use my major and apply my creative skills in those spaces.
How have you grown personally and professionally?
I’ve grown a lot professionally, but personally too. I feel like my growth was kind of stunted back home because there weren’t many opportunities there.
When I got to Kansas City, it felt like I was back on another set of stairs, and it was time to start climbing again. I learned a lot about being an adult, being a person in the world and understanding other people’s experiences.
UMKC gave me several opportunities to either learn new things and apply knowledge that I already had and was passionate about. I got to do that through a variety of programs and experiences, and they really supported my growth throughout my time here.