“I’ve always considered myself a bit of a disruptor,” said Chicago resident teacher Erika Oyinloe.
“I get the opportunity to be a change maker in the classroom. I just want to make sure that as long as I’m in the room, the student with the least amount of resources will get what they need.”
Growing up in Chicago, Erika felt very lucky being surrounded by educators who believed in her, poured into her, and made school a safe place throughout her K-12 experience.
“When I think about my childhood and background, school kept me on a positive trajectory,” she said.
“I really owe my educational experience to who I am today.”
Erika firmly believes in the power of education and its ability to change the direction of someone’s life. After graduating from Northern Illinois University in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in communication studies, she pursued a career in higher education.
Beginning her career with College Possible Chicago, she worked as a transition coach and then a college coach for students with lower GPAs to pursue and persist through the demanding college experience. She then moved onto a scholarship website company, connecting scholarships to organizations serving underrepresented students. She concluded her career in higher education as an admissions advisor for the College of Lake County, doing admissions and academic advising work.
“I was a first-generation college student and I just remember struggling through my undergraduate experience without adequate information or support,” said Erika.
“I wanted to be able to share the knowledge I gained from all the mistakes I made so students could make more informed decisions earlier in the process.”
After feeling fatigued from being in the college space and taking time as a stay-at-home mom, Erika was ready to begin her teaching career with the AUSL Teacher Residency.
“I always knew that teaching and being in the classroom would bring together all of my passions of education, student success, creativity, and curriculum design,” she said.
Erika felt the AUSL Teacher Residency fit her personal timeline the best being a one-year program and the financial support provided the stability she needed.
She is now in her third month of teacher training at Funston Elementary and has been pushed out of her comfort zone by her mentor teacher to lead instruction, classroom activities, and providing diverse learners with productive outlets.
“There’s so much grace in the environment,” said Erika.
“I’m proud to make mistakes in a program that is designed for you to learn from them. I’m reflecting and adjusting before I’m in my own classroom.”
Erika’s career experience of advocating for student success has influenced her student-centered approach to teaching on making her curriculum relevant to the needs in her classroom.
“Building relationships with my students has allowed me to notice their specific learning styles,” she said.
“I believe it’s much more important to give students what they need to be successful rather than follow a designated timeline for a lesson plan. If my students are not ready for step three, I will not move them forward until they are ready.”
Erika’s strong belief in education as an institution for change has anchored her career and continues to inspire her to serve her community. From higher education to the K–12 classroom, she has made it her mission to bridge gaps and build opportunities for students who need them most.
As she grows into her role as a classroom teacher, Erika embodies the power of educators who see beyond test scores — who see potential, resilience, and the promise of transformation through learning.
Start your teaching journey with the AUSL Teacher Residency and apply today: https://connect.auslchicago.org/apply/
