On her journey to become a teacher, Ingrid Mesarina-Tibbetts, a senior at Bemidji State University from Cass Lake, Minn. studying elementary education, has faced many challenges. While pursuing her bachelors degree as a full-time student, she was also working a full-time job and raising her two sons as a single mother.

Despite any obstacles that lay in her way, Tibbett’s passion for language, culture and education led her to BSU’s Distributed Learning in Teacher Education (DLiTE) program. In 2013, she began the DLiTE program with the goal to use her education and experience to give back to her community.

DLiTE is an online/hybrid elementary education teacher licensure program, spanning six semesters. Nearly all of the courses in the program are offered in a hybrid format, with a portion of each class conducted face-to-face and the remainder completed online. The program aims to extend opportunities to motivated students throughout the state and beyond.

Tibbetts said, “As an educator, I hope to teach children in a useful, meaningful and relevant way, that will develop in them, not only a love for learning western academic knowledge, but their indigenous language and culture as well.”

When thinking about her future students, Tibbetts feels prepared to guide them through any life challenges they will face. Drawing on her own experiences, she aims to support them while still holding them accountable for their academics.

“My experience in the Dlite program has prepared me to teach and support all children with various backgrounds, demographics and learning styles,” Tibbetts said. “I believe this has helped me gain the confidence needed to be an advocate not only for myself, but for my students.”

Read a full article written by Tibbetts about her experience at BSU and the DLiTE program here.

Bemidji State University, located amid the lakes and forests of northern Minnesota, occupies a wooded campus along the shore of Lake Bemidji. Enrolling more than 5,100 students, Bemidji State offers more than 80 undergraduate majors and eight graduate degrees encompassing arts, sciences and select professional programs. BSU is a member of the Minnesota State system of colleges and universities and has a faculty and staff of more than 550. The university’s Shared Fundamental Values include environmental stewardship, civic engagement and international and multicultural understanding. For more, visit bemidjistate.edu or find us at BemidjiState on most of your favorite social media networks.

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