University of Hartford Program Helps SESI Educators Earn Teaching Credential
Discovering a New Career Path
When Erin Harrigan joined SESI in 2023 as an administrative assistant at High Road School of Fairfield County, becoming a special education teacher wasn’t part of her plan.
Harrigan earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and was considering a career in child psychology. But working in a school gave her a different perspective. As she stepped in to support classrooms, she saw firsthand the relationships teachers built with students and the role they played in helping them make progress.
“I realized the best work I could do for kids and the biggest impact I could make was to be a teacher,” Harrigan said.
A Pathway Into the Classroom
That realization eventually led her to the University of Hartford Teacher Credentialing Program, offered through SESI’s partnership with the university. The program allows eligible Connecticut employees to earn a Master of Arts in Teaching and teaching credential while continuing to work. Harrigan completed the online program in about a year and a half while working full time. She graduated in May 2026 and has submitted her application for Connecticut certification.
That realization eventually led her to the University of Hartford Teacher Credentialing Program, offered through SESI’s partnership with the university. The program allows eligible Connecticut employees to earn a Master of Arts in Teaching and teaching credential while continuing to work. Harrigan completed the online program in about a year and a half while working full time. She graduated in May 2026 and has submitted her application for Connecticut certification.
For Harrigan, the program provided a way to move into teaching without putting her career on hold.
“The UHart program was a jumping-off point for me,” she said. “I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, and it propelled me forward.”
Along the way, her role at SESI evolved as well. She became a long-term substitute in a middle school classroom in Norwalk before moving to B.E.S.T. Academy, where she now works as a full-time special education teacher.
Balancing Work, School and Life
Managing graduate school alongside a full-time job took discipline. Harrigan planned out her weeks carefully, blocking time on her calendar for schoolwork as well as the parts of her life she didn’t want to lose in the process. She also went through the program alongside a colleague, giving her someone to study with and lean on when the workload picked up.
Support from SESI colleagues helped, too. Harrigan said her supervisors and other team members regularly checked in to make sure she had what she needed and wasn’t becoming overwhelmed.
“I’m not always good at asking for help, so it was nice to have people checking in,” she said.
One of the team members offering support and encouragement was Victoria Williams, operations manager and special education teacher at High Road School of Fairfield County.
“Erin is the type of teacher you remember as a student,” said Williams. “She leads and supports students with her heart, and she is always looking for ways to improve to make a positive impact on students.”
Remembering Her “Why”
Some of the lessons Harrigan took from UHart now shape how she approaches her own classroom. One in particular came during her final semester: never forget your “why.” For Harrigan, that means remembering that learning doesn’t always look the same from one student to the next.
“Learning happens everywhere,” she said. “A student might be sitting, standing or using a stress ball, but they’re still listening. Learning might look different, and that’s OK.”
That perspective is important in her work at B.E.S.T. Academy. Harrigan finds satisfaction in the moments when a student solves an addition problem, learns to voice a concern or connects with a lesson that has been adapted to meet their needs.
“It’s like a puzzle I get to do every day to help a student learn,” she said.
Looking Ahead—and Encouraging Others
Looking ahead, Harrigan sees possibilities she hadn’t considered when she first joined SESI, including eventually moving into a leadership role.
For colleagues considering the program, Harrigan doesn’t minimize the commitment involved. Her advice is to find a system for managing your time and stick with it.
But she also wouldn’t hesitate to do it again.
“Go for it,” Harrigan said. “The positives outweigh any concerns you may have. The opportunities that come from going through it outweigh the stress. If you’re thinking about it, do it.”
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