Danielle Robertson knew in high school that she wanted to be a teacher. However, she figured she would have to get a Masters of Arts in Teaching in order to do that.

It wasn’t until the English major learned about Oregon State University’s Education Double Degree Program at the start of her fourth year that her plan changed.

“I wanted to get my masters in English, but I thought I needed my masters in teaching,” she said. “I didn’t know the Double Degree Program existed.”

The Education Double Degree program enables students to earn two undergraduate degrees concurrently – one in their chosen field and one in education.

“I wouldn’t be as good of a teacher without the Double Degree Program. The teachers in the College of Education are great,” she said. “The Masters of Arts in Teaching and the Double Degree courses are similar. This will let me get my teaching license right away.” Robertson, who is scheduled to graduate magna cum laude this June, is currently doing her student teaching at Crescent Valley High School in Corvallis. She is teaching two sections of Honors American Literature and one section of International Short Stories and Myths. Her mentor teachers at CVHS are April Turple and Marin McKeen.

“They rule. They are so easy to work with and have helped me so much to become a better teacher,” Robertson said. Robertson is also the head coach of the combined Crescent Valley and Corvallis high schools speech and debate team. It’s a job she’s been doing since her sophomore year at OSU.

“I competed in speech and debate in high school and when I came to OSU as a freshman I was looking to judge high school events. I went in to talk to the coach at the time and he said that his assistant coach just quit and he needed help.” After one year of being the assistant coach, Robertson became the head coach.

In the four years since then, she’s had five students qualify for the national championships, including Alyssa Vincent-Hill from Crescent Valley High School and Zac Bentley from Corvallis High School this year. Nationals are June 17-22 in Wichita, Kan.

“She is so great with the kids. They love her,” said Kay Stephens, coordinator of Language Arts Licensure in OSU’s College of Education. “Speech and debate is one of the only extra-curricular activities that translates directly to future employment,” Robertson said. “I don’t think informed opinion is emphasized enough.”

On top of that, she’s working 20 hours a week as a baking assistant in Arnold Dining Hall on campus, a job she’s had for five years. With all of her duties around Corvallis, her work days often start at 7:15 a.m. and finish at 9 p.m.

“Saturday is my only day off, but during the season, we spend two Saturdays a month traveling around to various team events and right now I’m spending Saturdays preparing the students for nationals,” she said.

As for what she’ll do after graduation, Robertson has applied for several jobs in the mid-Willamette Valley area. “I hope to be staying around here next year, but we’ll see,” she said.