Education

Celebrating the 2026 Baker School Graduates

Tatiana Ellis, BA '26, Lexi Simmerson, MEd '26, Nicole Alvarez, BA '25 MEd '26

The Baker School has so much to celebrate in our 2026 graduates. Some are just entering the education field while some have decades of experience. Some grew up in Washington, DC, and some are from outside the US. Learn about a sampling of our amazing graduates setting out to improve the world of education.

A Double Eagle's Journey: Nicole Alvarez, BA ’25 MEd ’26, on Education, Community, and Coming Back to AU

Now a Baltimore City Public Schools teacher, she wants to remain hands-on and connected to students.

From Dual Enrollment to Teaching Fellow: Tatiana Ellis's, BA ’26, Journey Through AU's Baker School of Education

For Ellis, American University was never just a college — it was the place where a childhood dream became a career in progress.

Ruby Marsh, BA/MAT ’26, Finds Her Classroom

How Baker School graduate Ruby Marsh turned a pandemic pivot into a purpose-driven career in elementary education. “You will learn so much in your time in this program and through your clinical experiences, and you will grow and change your beliefs.”

From Au Pair to Educator: How the Baker School of Education Prepared Her for a Career in Special Education

The path Abbey Phelan, MAT ’26, took to American University began not in a classroom, but in a home.

AU Opens Doors: Lexi Simmerson is on a Mission to Make Schools Work for Every Student

Lexi Simmerson, MEd '26, always knew she wanted to be a teacher. What she didn't know was that her path would take her somewhere much bigger.