Starla Edwards’ path to the classroom didn’t begin with a credential program—it began as a volunteer. “I love PTA so much,” said Edwards, USC Rossier Master of Arts in Teaching candidate. “That’s where my educational journey started.” On May 16, Edwards will take the stage as the 2026 USC Rossier master’s ceremony student speaker, representing a journey shaped by advocacy, persistence and a deep-rooted commitment to students and community.
Edwards earned her bachelor’s degree in liberal studies with a focus on education from Cal State Fullerton and completed her initial teaching credential in 2009. However, the timing proved difficult. The recession, combined with layoffs and raising her second child, made securing a classroom placement challenging. Since then, Edwards has become the single parent of three sons who are 21, 17 and 13 years old.
She found her way back to education through USC Rossier’s MAT program. “I’m so thankful for USC’s longer student teaching,” Edwards said of the 15-week placement. “I’ve learned so much getting to be in a classroom. It gives you a much clearer picture of what life is going to be like as a teacher.”
That clarity builds on years of hands-on experience. Edwards spent over 15 years volunteering across three school districts taking on roles that ranged from classroom support to leading physical education activities. In addition, she designed and taught her own art lessons in her sons’ first-, fifth- and sixth-grade classrooms. Her connection to working with children dates back even further to childhood visits with her cousin, an early childhood educator, during which she first discovered her affinity for teaching.
Her commitment to service was also modeled at home. Edwards noted that her parents, Debra and Paul Gonzales, volunteered in their community—her mother at church, her father at junior high school. One core memory stands out: accompanying her father as he volunteered to paint at her junior high school campus shortly after she enrolled there. “I think my mom made him,” she said. That early exposure shaped not only her values but also how she raises her sons, whom she often brings along to volunteer activities. “I do what my parents did,” she said. “We volunteer together.”
In 2016, after her family moved, Edwards began volunteering on PTA boards at her sons’ schools, later serving as president—three times, with a fourth term ahead. Through her leadership, she identified two growing needs: fewer families were volunteering after the COVID-19 pandemic and opportunities for student engagement felt limited.
In response, Edwards launched a student volunteer program at Ethel Dwyer Middle School, designed to be accessible to all students, not just those in selective honors programs. “I wanted to provide opportunities for every student to serve their community and be recognized for it,” she said. The program requires 25 hours of service and offers a range of activities, from beach cleanups and campus events to creating cards for veterans and patients at local hospitals, as well as art projects for assisted living residents. By offering varied options, Edwards ensures students can engage in ways that reflect their interests. “If a kid likes to be outdoors, they can do beach cleanups. If they like writing or art, we have opportunities for that too,” she said.
For Edwards, PTA is more than volunteering—it’s advocacy. “It’s our job now to advocate for our students,” she said. “As educators, we have to step into that role.” That belief guided her decision to pursue her MAT at USC Rossier. During a challenging time in her life and uncertainty about her future, Edwards knew she wanted to return to education, but not halfway.
“I love being in schools,” she added. “Students kept asking me, ‘Why can’t you be our teacher?’” Drawn to the program’s structure, Edwards chose USC Rossier for its one-year format and its emphasis on clinical practice within her community. She completed her student teaching at the same elementary school her children attended, allowing her to remain closely connected to her family. “I was able to stay rooted in my community,” she said. “That meant everything to me.”
Other influences throughout her journey include Christa Glembocki EdD ’23. Edwards volunteered at Ethel Dwyer Middle School where Glembocki was principal. For Edwards, Glembocki balanced leadership, family and commitment to education. “I’ve truly experienced how empowered women empower women,” she said. In addition, Edwards’ two guiding teachers, Angelique Martinez and April Franks, played a key role during her clinical practice at Agnes L. Smith Elementary. “They are the teachers I aspire to be,” she added.
As Edwards prepares to address her fellow graduates, she is thinking of her sons and the example she hopes to set for them. “We’ve been through a lot,” she said. “My message to them, and to my classmates, is to never give up on your dreams. You can always accomplish your goals.” Stepping onto the commencement stage, Edwards sees not just a milestone, but a calling fulfilled. “I’ve always been meant to be a teacher,” she said. “This is just the beginning.”
