Esparenza Hallauer always wanted to teach.
“I have always loved school and history,” Hallauer said. “My high school history teacher was my favorite person on the planet throughout high school and the impact she had on myself and my classmates was amazing. I wanted to do what she did, so she was my inspiration to become a history teacher.”
CELEBRATING SUCCESS: UToledo recognizes the Class of 2024 with a series of stories featuring students receiving their degrees at fall commencement.
Studying adolescent and young adult education with a focus in integrated social studies, Hallauer first decided to attend UToledo because of the numerous study abroad opportunities available for students studying education.
This led her to Rocket Kids, a UToledo-led program that recruits and trains current students and recent graduates from across the country to provide quality child development at military bases around the world.
Hallauer said she jumped at the chance to join the program.
“Rocket Kids allowed me to not only travel places I may have never gotten to visit in my lifetime but also allowed me to do what I love: working with kids,” she said. “The relationships I got to build, the memories I created, the children I got to know and love truly changed my life for the better. Rocket Kids not only gave me five cumulative months of core memories but also gave me a huge resume booster that I get asked about in every job interview.”
She first traveled with Rocket Kids in the summer of 2023 to Italy. She also visited China last summer and is currently working as the project coordinator and supervisor for Rocket Kids in the Netherlands.
Esparenza Hallauer was drawn to UToledo for the study abroad opportunities available to education students. She graduates Dec. 14 while in the Netherlands as part of the Rocket Kids program.
Hallauer will graduate Saturday, Dec. 14, while abroad with Rocket Kids with her bachelor’s degree in education.
“I got to experience building great relationships with new people and children while living abroad for 2-3 months at a time, and I also got to see the world and all its rich history and cultures,” Hallauer said. “Spending my off semesters working with military children and being able to see historical places throughout Europe has helped prepare me for being an educator.”
Dr. Colleen Fitzpatrick, an assistant professor in the Department of Teacher Education in the Judith C. Herb College of Education, said Hallauer went above and beyond as a student teacher.
“Esparenza’s lesson plans encouraged students to think deeply about the material and challenged them to rise to new levels,” Fitzpatrick said. “Her mentor teacher commended her frequently and wished she could stay at the school. She is kind and thoughtful and will do whatever she can to help students. Any student who is in her class is incredibly lucky.”
Following her experience with Rocket Kids, Hallauer said that she hopes to either teach in Toledo Public Schools or continue working with military families.
“Honestly, participating in Rocket Kids and traveling Europe throughout my final two years in college and student teaching locally were the most memorable parts of my college experience,” she said. “I got to build lifelong friendships and memories from my experience at UToledo.”
