Yulia Fatula

“I never imagined that I would have the opportunity to further my education here in the United States. I relocated from Ukraine at the age of 24 with qualifications in pedagogy and psychology. However, in order to pursue a teaching career in this country, I needed to obtain a teaching certificate, which meant embarking on a new educational path. Initially, this idea didn’t even cross my mind until I learned about the TA-to-Teacher program at Ramapo. During that time, I was working as a paraprofessional at Madison High School. Despite facing various challenges, such as caring for my two young children, limited English proficiency, holding down two jobs, and supporting family members affected by war, I decided to join the first cohort. I successfully completed the program with a high GPA. Currently, I am assisting MLL (Multilingual Language Learners) students in Clifton by teaching at the Magnet School for Ukrainian students. My background in special education has proven to be a perfect fit for this role. This experience has taught me that no matter how difficult or impossible things may seem, achieving your goals with determination and the right mindset is indeed possible!” – Yulia Fatula ’24 graduated summa cum laude with a Master of Arts in Special Education. She currently works as a teacher in the Clifton Public School District.