School of Education Ambassador Renee Keane ’08, G’09, P’26 earned her B.A. in 2008 from the College of Arts and Sciences and her M.S. in English Education from the School of Education in 2009. Licensed as an English Language Arts (Grades 7-12) and Special Education (Grades 7-12) teacher, Keane has worked at Marcellus (NY) High School since 2019. A double alumna, she is now an Orange parent too—her son is currently a sophomore at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.
PAST: What memory from your time at SOE do you most cherish?
The memories I most cherish are the time spent with peers in the program. We developed close bonds of learning and growing together throughout our nine-month graduate program in English Education.
Our professors were warm, always available, supportive, yet they also showed us how to do great things while simultaneously pushing ourselves to the next level. The role models we were exposed to, readings we dissected and discussed, and the creation of classroom/cohort communities we could take with us after graduation were unmatched in SOE.
PRESENT: What are you working on now that you’d like to share with fellow alums?
I love my career as an educator. After earning my master’s degree, I immediately entered the teaching profession. I worked as an English teacher (grades 7-12) for 10 years before obtaining additional certification in Special Education. During this time I also worked part time as an adjunct professor at the community college level. Having these experiences allowed me to grow immensely as an educator.
As both an ELA and Special Education teacher—having worked with middle, high school, and college students—I am now ready to spread my wings and study to obtain additional certification in the area of early childhood special education, which has been a passionate interest of mine since becoming a parent. I also continue to be involved in my current district not only as a teacher but also as a parent and community member/supporter.
FUTURE: What is your hope for the future of education and learning?
My hope for the future of education and learning is that education in all arenas becomes more inclusive, more accepting, and more whole child/whole human focused.
We have done so much work in this field, and I love being a part of Syracuse University’s research in education in these areas. Syracuse is a true pioneer, and I am blessed to be an alumna who can support and be supported by my alma mater.
Learn more about the School of Education Ambassadors Program