Story by Sarah Salmons
Photos by Morgan Solomon

This fall, Hannah Manning, Jake Calder, Luke Mullersman and Mikayla Sutton will trade their Mizzou classrooms for classrooms of their own at Battle High School in Columbia Public Schools. 

The four 2026 graduates are ready to put what they learned at the University of Missouri into practice and begin careers centered on helping students learn and discover their potential. They are just four of the hundreds of recent graduates from the College of Education & Human Development (CEHD) who will be teaching in classrooms across Missouri and the country. 

Manning, an English language arts teacher working with ninth- and 12th-grade students, explained that means understanding that every student walks into the classroom carrying experiences their teacher may never see. 

“One thing that I have learned at Mizzou that I will be carrying with me into my first year of teaching is the ability to meet students where they are,” Manning said. 

That perspective will shape how she approaches her first year in the classroom. Manning wants to be empathetic and understanding while also challenging students to become the best versions of themselves. 

“I am most excited about the bond I will build with my students,” she said. “I am privileged with seeing my students grow into young adults, while also mentoring my seniors with their post-secondary endeavors.” 

Calder, a social studies teacher at Battle, said the importance of relationships was emphasized throughout his Mizzou education courses and reinforced during his practicum experiences. 

Building strong relationships with students “was instilled in every education class by professors and peers and recognized and encouraged often in practicum,” Calder said. “It is truly the foundation for a great student learning experience.” 

Now, he is looking forward to having the opportunity to work with the same students throughout an entire school year. 

“I’m excited for the opportunity to have the same group of students for a whole year so I can really encourage and support them as I build deep relationships,” he said. 

Mullersman, who will teach English 10 and English 11, said one of the most important lessons he is taking from Mizzou is the power of positive feedback. 

As he begins his teaching career, Mullersman is eager to put that lesson into practice while creating a classroom where students feel welcomed and supported. 

“Other than that, I am excited to welcome students into my room and build strong, positive relationships with them,” he said. 

Sutton, who will teach social studies, is also taking the importance of relationships into her first classroom. But for her, those relationships extend beyond students to include the colleagues she will work alongside every day. 

“One thing from Mizzou I will carry with me in my first year of teaching is the importance of building strong relationships with students and staff,” Sutton said. “Showing up every day ready to help out and work hard for my students and staff is my greatest form of motivation.” 

Sutton is especially excited about collaborating with her new colleagues to create meaningful learning experiences for students. 

“I’m looking forward to collaborating with staff to build meaningful and engaging lessons for students,” she said. 

The four new teachers are joining a growing community of Mizzou alumni already making an impact at Battle. 

From the halls of Mizzou to the classrooms of Battle High School, Manning, Calder, Mullersman and Sutton are putting what they learned into practice and beginning the next chapter in a profession that has the power to transform lives.