Malaki Fleming, a graduate student in Educational Administration and Leadership, returned to the LeBron James Family Foundation School of Education to pursue his advanced degree, drawn by its reputation for offering exceptional value, cutting-edge resources, and personalized support. Malaki, who received his undergraduate degree from the school, felt confident that continuing his education at Akron would prepare him for the evolving demands of the education field.
“Being an educator, I have the best resources, tools, and research to best serve my students, and Akron gives that,” Malaki shares, emphasizing that the university provides the most up-to-date training for aspiring educators.
During his undergraduate years, Malaki's experience was enriched by networking opportunities, travel, and building lasting relationships. His education at UA, he says, was instrumental in preparing him for the realities of modern-day classrooms. "What I was taught here was research that's up to date, resources and tools that were up to date, and what's actually going on in education right now. It's how I can best serve my students in today's environment and today's climate," he explains.
Malaki attributes much of his success to the close-knit support from faculty, who were always available to provide guidance. "Anytime I've had an issue in a class or needed more help, office hours and small class sizes made it easy to reach out and get one-to-one instruction and guidance,” he says.
A pivotal part of Malaki's training was his student teaching experience, where he gained practical skills in diverse school settings. He highlights the sense of community fostered in LJFF School of Education in BCAS, which allowed him to grow alongside a group of fellow educators from freshman year through graduation.
“The group of educators you start with in your freshman year, you grow with throughout your entire four years,” Malaki says. “You learn from each other, go through similar struggles, and at the finish line, you get to start your careers together.”
When asked what advice he would offer to prospective students, Malaki points to the dedication of UA's faculty: “The professors care about what you think, what you need to know, and how you need to get there. Most importantly, they care about your future as an educator.”
Malaki Fleming’s experience at UA illustrates the school’s commitment to preparing future educators with the tools, knowledge, and community needed to thrive in today’s dynamic educational landscape.
RELATED:
Story by: Lisa Craig, BCAS Marketing
Video by: University Communications and Marketing