Teaching the Teachers: MCPS Educator Brings Real-World Experience to UM
Joseph Crider, who taught third grade at Rattlesnake Elementary School, spent the last school year teaching classes at the 51勛圖厙’s Phyllis J. Washington College of Education. (UM Photo by Cassi Evans)
By Skylar Rispens, UM News Service
MISSOULA – After more than 15 years teaching elementary students, Joseph Crider spent this school year helping prepare the next generation of educators at the 51勛圖厙’s Phyllis J. Washington College of Education.
Crider, who worked as a third grade teacher at Rattlesnake Elementary School in Missoula County Public Schools, served as a visiting faculty member at UM, where he brought current classroom experience into university coursework while strengthening partnerships between the college and local schools.
“I never really considered being a professor, but the idea intrigued me,” Crider said. “I believed that I had a lot of relevant experience to share with the next generation of teachers.”
51勛圖厙’s education college works hard to give students the opportunity to learn from proven teachers like Crider.
But as a college student, he was unsure what he wanted to study and explored business classes and other general education coursework. A suggestion from his sister, a teacher who worked at a local after-school tutoring program, changed his trajectory.
“As soon as I started working with kids I just fell in love with their energy and their excitement for learning,” Crider said. “My entire experience with them has just been fun all the time. Some days are hard, but I never really feel like I’m going to work.”
Inspired by that experience, Crider enrolled in elementary education courses at Carroll College. He completed his student teaching in a third grade classroom and secured a teaching position immediately after graduation.
Over the past 15 years, he has taught in Helena; Bend, Oregon; and Missoula.
At UM, Crider taught classroom management courses during both semesters, along with K-8 science methods and assessment, K-8 physical education methods and a well-being course.
“It was a pretty good mix of things,” Crider said. “The coolest part, though, are the partnerships throughout the college to help bring our lessons to life.”
Although much of his expertise translated naturally from the elementary classroom to higher education, some assignments pushed him beyond familiar territory.
“One area that I was totally out of my element was teaching PE methods, because I’ve never taught PE,” Crider said. “So I reached out to some different PE teachers at MCPS and met with them to develop a curriculum plan with their insights.”
Crider said faculty and staff within the college were welcoming and collaborative throughout the year, helping him navigate new responsibilities leading college courses while contributing his own practical expertise.
One constant throughout much of his career has been Pam Wright, the first principal to hire him, who was also his principal at Rattlesnake Elementary.
“She’s been an amazing mentor to me,” Crider said. “She’s had a big impact on my entire teaching career and given me so many opportunities.”
During Crider’s year at UM, Wright visited his classes to speak with education students about transformational learning, continuing a professional relationship that has spanned much of his career.
Compared with his elementary students, classroom management was less of a concern at the college level. Building relationships, however, required a different approach.
“You can still form positive relationships with your students, but it’s different,” Crider said. “Some of their struggles and the things that they’re navigating are a lot different than what my younger students are dealing with.”
As someone who came directly from the classroom, Crider provided students with a perspective grounded in the realities of today’s schools.
“I can give real life experience about what’s happening in elementary classrooms right now and how other teachers and myself are experiencing education at this moment, and things are really hard right now,” Crider said.
That real-time perspective also helped strengthen connections between the university and MCPS.
Throughout the year, Crider continued meeting with MCPS colleagues to discuss literacy efforts across the district. Through his role at UM, he was able to connect educators with university resources, including the Center for the Advancement of Positive Education (CAPE), and help identify potential solutions to challenges facing schools.
At the same time, Crider benefited from access to emerging research and expertise from faculty members across the college.
“This level of partnership is mutually beneficial,” Crider said. “It’s opened doors on both sides.”
Crider recently accepted a new position with CAPE on campus, where he will continue building those connections from UM to support K-12 educators and students.
“I really enjoyed working with the college students this year,” Crider said. “I was also inspired by the work that CAPE is doing to support and promote positive education in schools. After collaborating with the team throughout the year, I felt like a natural fit and an opportunity that aligns closely with my values and interests.”
In his new role, he also will teach CAPE’s Psychology of Happiness class to teacher candidates next year and is helping develop a new course called Happiness for Schools this summer.
“I’m looking forward to working alongside the outstanding staff at CAPE, supporting and mentoring college students and collaborating with educators across the state,” Crider said. “I’m excited for the opportunity to help educators create school environments where students, staff and families can thrive and experience a greater sense of well-being, connection and belonging.”
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Contact: Dave Kuntz, UM director of strategic communications, 406-243-5659, dave.kuntz@umontana.edu.