April Van Brunt, a mother of four and a nontraditional student in the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s Master of Education: Elementary Education program, has spent the past year participating in the “Grow Your Own” initiative—which aims to help address the current teacher shortage and get more qualified teachers in classrooms.
She now teaches kindergarten at Red Bank Elementary School and will graduate with honors during UTC’s Graduate School commencement on Friday, May 2.
The journey that brought her to UTC, in her words.
April Van Brunt entered UTC’s M.Ed. program last June to become a full-time elementary school teacher. Now a Red Bank Elementary School kindergarten teacher, she will receive her master’s degree during UTC Graduate School commencement on May 2. Photo by Angela Foster.
Teaching wasn’t my first career, but looking back, it feels like I’ve been heading this way all along.
I earned my bachelor’s degree in film and theater back in 2004 and spent years working in video and live production in Atlanta. I worked on all kinds of projects—corporate events, concerts, theatrical productions. I loved the energy, creativity and behind-the-scenes problem-solving, but it was often contract work.
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When I became a mom, I wanted more consistency and to be present for my family. Our youngest is now in third grade at Red Bank Elementary School. We have two children in middle school—and our oldest son is about to graduate from college.
When the younger three kids started school, I naturally gravitated to their classrooms. I volunteered and helped out with events and before long, I was spending more and more time there. I didn’t realize it at the time, but that was my first step toward becoming a teacher.
Life, as it does, brings changes, and not long after we settled in after moving to Chattanooga, the pandemic hit. Everything shifted. Suddenly, we were all at home. I was homeschooling, trying to keep things organized and engaging, and I found myself loving it. I started planning our days around outdoor experiences. What could we learn from nature today? What does the world around us have to teach?
Eventually, we moved into the Red Bank zone. When schools reopened, I knew I wanted to be back inside the classroom—not just as a parent volunteer but as part of the school team. I didn’t just love watching kids learn; I loved learning with them.
Because of COVID, volunteers weren’t initially allowed in to help out, so I applied for a job as a classroom assistant at Red Bank Elementary. That’s when I was introduced to the forest school philosophy. It felt like it was made for me.
April Van Brunt has spent the past year participating in the “Grow Your Own” initiative, which aims to help address the current teacher shortage and get more qualified teachers in classrooms.
The forest school philosophy is grounded in child-led, experiential learning. Kids spend a significant part of each day outside. We follow their natural curiosities and build lessons from what they observe—trees blooming, weather patterns, animal tracks.
We still meet all the state standards, but the way we get there is through exploration and creativity. Instead of counting plastic cubes, our kids collect acorns and pine cones to learn about numbers. Instead of reading about clouds, we go outside and study the sky. It builds confidence, independence and a sense of connection to the world.
I was hooked. The autonomy the teachers are given at Red Bank, combined with the trust of the administration and the creativity of the forest approach, made me realize that this was what I wanted to do.
During my first year as an assistant, I heard about Hamilton County Schools’ Grow Your Own program. It was designed to help people already working in schools—like me—become licensed teachers. I joined an early Zoom information session and was immediately intrigued. At the time, though, the cohort was focused on secondary education in math and science. That wasn’t a fit for me. I knew I wanted to teach early grades, I knew I wanted to stay at Red Bank, and I knew I wanted to stay in the forest program.
So I waited. I kept attending the info sessions each time a new cohort was announced, hoping that one would check all my boxes.
Finally, in the spring of 2024, it happened. I remember telling my principal, “This is it. If I can stay at Red Bank, stay in the forest program and focus on K-2, I’m all in.” Once that opportunity opened up, I took the leap.
The UTC M.Ed. program has been both rigorous and rewarding. It’s designed for working professionals and integrates field experience with graduate-level coursework. But it’s not easy. I started the program in June of last year and—since then—I’ve been teaching full time, attending school full time and raising kids.
It had been 20 years since I was last in school and there were times I doubted myself. I had to relearn how to write academic papers and how to cite sources. I had moments of panic, of exhaustion, of asking, “Can I really do this?” But every time I thought I couldn’t, I remembered why I started: my own children and the kids in my classroom.
To make it all work, I have needed every bit of focus and energy. I learned to ask for help. My husband, Steven, took over meals. My sister, who lives two houses down, helps with school drop-offs and pickups. My kids stepped up, too. They see me working late nights, writing papers and studying for exams. I hope it shows them that it’s never too late to grow, to pivot, to do something new.
I have had an incredible mentor teacher, Sally Warm, who was recently named one of Hamilton County Schools’ Teachers of the Year. Learning from her has been a gift. I wasn’t just learning theory; I was applying it in real-time.
The leadership at Red Bank has supported me every step of the way, and in January, I officially took over a kindergarten classroom. It still feels surreal to say that. To be part of the kindergarten team at Red Bank has been amazing. The school community is supportive and deeply invested in student success.
April Van Brunt works with students in her Red Bank Elementary School kindergarten class.
The Grow Your Own program made this possible. Without it, I wouldn’t have pursued a master’s degree. The program is designed for people like me—those already working in schools who know the students, the environment, the realities of teaching. It’s a pathway that provides mentorship, structure and financial support. I was able to do all of this debt-free and that’s life-changing.
I’m proud of the work I’ve done—the lessons planned, the relationships built, the growth I’ve experienced. I’m proud of my kids for cheering me on, of my husband for standing beside me, and of myself for not giving up when times were tough.
For me, walking across that stage on May 2 with my family in the crowd is going to be emotional. My kids are going to see their mom finish something big and I hope that stays with them. I hope it shows them that you can start fresh at any age. And I’ll also be able to watch my oldest son graduate from college during the same month I’m graduating with my master’s.
To anyone out there thinking about becoming a teacher later in life, I would say: If your heart is in it and you’re willing to put in the work, it can be one of the most rewarding decisions you’ve ever made. Surround yourself with support. Find a mentor who believes in you. Make a plan and stick with it. And if you’re in Hamilton County, look into Grow Your Own. It truly lives up to its name.
I’m 43 and beginning a whole new career. Honestly? It feels like I’ve been training for this my entire life.
Learn more
Hamilton County Schools’ Grow Your Own Program
Photos by Angela Foster
