Graduate Praises BVU’s Convenient Online Instruction
Teacher reflects on career that took her from Fairfield to Europe, to BVU, and on to Dubuque.
Tori Curoe isn’t a professional juggler. She could be.
Curoe worked four jobs while serving as a paraprofessional in the Dubuque Community Schools District. So, she technically worked five jobs.
And attended Buena Vista University at the same time.
“I liked that BVU offered courses that were all online because I was working so many jobs when I was an undergraduate,” says Curoe, a Behavior Teacher who serves a special education program within the schools.
“When I looked at colleges, I wanted to earn a special education degree that focused on behavior,” Curoe says. “BVU allowed me to do everything remotely. It was so convenient.”
“Earning my master’s in special education gave me more insight into my profession while putting me on a more advanced career track.”
Tori Curoe
Curoe also followed the lead of her older sister, Amber (Koontz) Earnest, who took BVU classes online in earning her bachelor’s degree in 2002.
Curoe, who lived and worked for years in Europe following her graduation from Fairfield High School in 2007, worked her way through college. She served as a student-teacher in her hometown, Fairfield, then earned a position in Dubuque months ahead of her gradation in May 2018.
“After I earned by bachelors, I started on my master’s almost immediately,” she says, noting how she selected BVU again based on the great experience she had in earning her bachelor’s.
“Dr. Lucas DeWitt (Master of Education Program Director) was awesome to work with in graduate school,” she says. “Earning my master’s in special education gave me more insight into my profession while putting me on a more advanced career track.”
Serving students in special education has many rewards for Curoe, whose motivation involves helping children discover coping strategies as they grow. She seeks to do all she can to help them succeed.
When not at school, she and her husband, Cale Curoe, tend to their four cats and five chickens, raising them on an acre or so in Dubuque.
“Cale and I bought our first house last November,” she says, hinting at a laugh that suggests less juggling. “We’re very happy here. Plus, I’m not working five jobs anymore!”