Class of 2025: Kerry Baumann

A Virginia native with a strong commitment to public education, Kerry Baumann discovered her passion for teaching after working in strategic communications and witnessing the critical challenges facing schools, educators, and students nationwide.  

Now, as she prepares to graduate from UVA’s Master of Teaching program, Baumann has embraced her journey into education by collaborating with expert mentors, engaging in meaningful classroom experiences, and honing her skills as a future educator. As part of the inaugural cohort of Tomorrow’s Teachers Fund fellows, she feels both honored and deeply grateful for the University’s investment in her training and her future as an educator. This fall, she will step into her new role as a kindergarten teacher with Alexandria City Public Schools, where she will help lay the foundation for her students’ future success.

Q: What inspired you to choose a career in elementary education?

I always knew I wanted a career where I could contribute to something larger than myself, but it took me a few years to figure out what that should look like. After graduating with a bachelor’s in public policy at the end of 2020, I began working in strategic communications at an organization focused on increasing economic and social mobility for young people and families in poverty in the U.S. Through that work, I closely followed three key issues: (1) the devastating and lasting impact of COVID-19 on students and their families, (2) alarming attacks on public education by people with disproportionate power and influence, and (3) the growing national shortage of high-quality teachers. As cliché as it may sound, I think I felt called to teach for those reasons.

Teaching also aligns with what I want in a career: it’s hands-on, intellectually demanding, deeply fulfilling, and rooted in lifelong learning. Most importantly, children keep you grounded, and I consider it a privilege to spend my days with them.

Q: Why did you choose the UVA School of Education & Human Development for your program of study?

I feel incredibly fortunate to live in a state with such outstanding public universities. As a Virginia native, applying to UVA’s nationally ranked School of Education & Human Development was a natural choice. Still, the financial realities of leaving my job, returning to school, and launching a new career in public education were significant. Ultimately, it was the generous financial support I received from UVA that made this path possible. I’m honored to be part of the inaugural cohort of Tomorrow’s Teachers Fund fellows and deeply grateful for the investment the University has made in my training and future as an educator.

Q: What is the most significant thing that has shaped your time here?

My mentors for my two student teaching placements, Kristi Hartwell and Sarah Scavone, are both expert veteran teachers who make the hardest job look easy. I’ve learned so much by working alongside them, including how to make strategic instructional decisions that serve each student, how to balance warmth and high expectations, and how to problem-solve daily challenges with tact and humor. Additionally, Dr. Judy Paulick is the professor-cheerleader that every preservice teacher needs. Her consistent support and thoughtful feedback have been invaluable throughout my time at UVA.

Q: What is one thing you learned in your studies that really took you by surprise?

Early in the program, my M.T. colleagues and I discussed education researcher Dan Lortie’s (1975) concept of the “apprenticeship of observation.” The idea is that because most people spend thousands of hours watching teachers as students, they assume they understand what teaching entails. In reality, they’ve only seen a small part of the work—mainly what happens in front of the class.

I knew becoming a teacher would be challenging, but I’ve gained a much deeper appreciation for just how complicated this job is and how much thought goes into every decision. It has also made me even more aware of how much our society tends to undervalue teachers and the expertise they bring to their work every day.

Q: What is coming next for you after graduation?  

For the 2025-2026 school year, I will be joining Alexandria City Public Schools as a kindergarten teacher! I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to support some of our youngest learners and to help lay the foundation for their future success in school.

Q: Anything else you'd like to add?

Teacher quality is one of the most powerful in-school factors shaping student success. When we invest in teachers, we invest in the future!