From Business Owner to Educator: How Springfield Prep Helped Me Transition into Teaching

March 7 2024 | Juan Catucci, Sixth Grade Science Teacher & Grade Level Chair at Springfield Prep

My journey to becoming a middle school science teacher at Springfield Prep was incredible, but surely not conventional. I’ve always been interested in education and enjoyed working with children, but my various passions and interests led me to make a few stops elsewhere before arriving to teaching.

In college, I initially wanted to study the business side of music. Eventually, I switched to pursue an associate’s degree in early childhood education, but didn’t enjoy the program and instead chose to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. During this time, I also founded a business coaching soccer to toddlers. This entrepreneurial endeavor taught me leadership, organization, and adaptability.

During the pandemic, I was forced to close my business, and move from New York to Massachusetts in search of new opportunities. My curiosity for teaching remained strong, but I didn’t have a teaching license and had no clue how I’d make the career change. I just knew that I needed an opportunity that would allow me to earn an income while I navigated the transition into teaching. In my search, I found Springfield Prep, a charter public school, which offered the perfect solution through its Associate Teacher Program. This program is designed for those who know they want to one day lead a classroom, but need the coaching, support, and gradual approach to get there. Despite not having a traditional education background, Springfield Prep recognized my passion for working with students and my experience as a small business owner as an asset.

Initially, I joined the program with the hopes of becoming a kindergarten teacher. However, when a middle school science teacher took paternity leave, it created an opening and a new opportunity emerged. Science was not my strongest subject growing up, but I embraced the challenge, and embarked on a journey that has rekindled my love for learning, teaching, and even science! I never would’ve imagined becoming a science teacher. But, thanks to my experiences teaching varying content and age groups as an associate teacher, I knew I had the skills and support needed to succeed. That was two years ago, and today I still teach 6th grade science! As a charter public school, Springfield Prep fosters a collaborative environment with a strong emphasis on professional development. The co-teaching model and differentiated professional development sessions have been instrumental in honing my teaching skills. Each week, I leave these sessions with actionable strategies to continually enhance my students’ learning experience and improve outcomes.

In my three years here, I’ve also gradually taken on additional leadership responsibilities. In my role as grade-level chair for 6th grade and the science content lead for the middle school, I am continuously challenging myself. As a leader, and coach of others, I often refer back to the skills and lessons I learned as an entrepreneur. Because Springfield Prep has invested in my continual growth, I’ve been able to develop myself as both an educator and a leader. Of course there comes a moment in any career where you question if you’ve truly found “your calling”. That moment is typically followed by another that provides an answer. For me, that moment happened when the former Governor of Massachusetts, Charlie Baker, visited Springfield Prep for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and observed my classroom. Later on, I was informed by my coach that the Governor described me as a “master of my craft.” This recognition affirmed that the classroom is exactly where I belong.

“Every day that I come to work, I know that I’m making an impact, and feel all the more grateful because I truly love what I do…. At Springfield Prep, I get to be an educator, a coach, and a leader. ”

Looking ahead, I am excited about my career and work as an educator. My advice to anyone considering a career in teaching: Don’t overlook the value of your previous experiences, even ones outside of a classroom. For me, a traditional education degree was not what led me to become the teacher that I am today. Instead, it was getting the support, development, and coaching needed to shepherd my entry to and growth in the field. And ultimately, my prior experiences have only added to what I bring to my students, my team, and my school!

Every day that I come to work, I know that I’m making an impact, and feel all the more grateful because I truly love what I do. I may not have the coaching business that I once envisioned and planned for – but I’m breaking ground in a different way: helping to launch Springfield Prep’s first competitive soccer team! At Springfield Prep, I get to be an educator, a coach, and a leader. My path may not have been conventional, but I wouldn’t change a thing.