Speaker: Sushma Yellapantula
Tell us a little bit about yourself. What is your story? Where do you come from?
Sushma Yellapantula: Hi, this is Sushma Ya Panola. I am working as a long term substitute teacher in Houston. And this has become possible only because of the help that I have got, I got from I ef I did my masters in India in chemistry and also a bachelor of education and worked as a teacher for a long time over there. And I thought when I applied here to one of the districts in Houston that I would just get the job of a substitute teacher the moment I applied. But I was told that they have no way of evaluating my credentials. And foreign credentials need to be evaluated by an independent agency. And they gave me a list of agencies and one of them was ief and I selected this agency uh because I heard this, heard about it from a trusted friend. And so a light and uh my documents and other details were submitted to them and they have been very prompt in doing the service and in evaluating the credentials and sending emails back and forth for whatever information was required. And I'm very happy with the decision that I had taken. And uh for having the credentials evaluated by IE because next one I applied with this evaluation in place I was promptly selected and that is how I have become a long term substitute teacher here. And because this is what I wanted to do, and I'm extremely happy that I'm able to do what I want to do. And uh I may also become a regular teacher uh once because uh my credentials have been evaluated. So, uh thank you aa for the help that you have given me in getting my credentials evaluated. Thank you.
To what extent has IERF assisted you to further achieve your academic or professional goals?
Sushma Yellapantula: Ier has helped me to become a substitute teacher, which is what my first goal was because my foreign credentials had to be evaluated and equivalency had to be found to the US degrees. So that purpose was achieved. Uh I also would like to use this service uh to further my professional goals. Uh For example, I might like to get a regular certification uh from the Texas Education Agency and become a regular teacher or use my master's degree evaluation for further education because I did stop my phd discontinued in India long time ago. If that is at all possible, I would like to pursue that too. So I with, if these are my goals. Thank you.
Tell us what's next for you! Are you studying? Working a Dream Job?
Sushma Yellapantula: I have already mentioned that I would like to study further if I were given the chance uh maybe apply to some university for a phd. Uh I, I was working for a phd uh after my master's in India, but due to some reasons I had to discontinue. Uh so that dream has always been there at the back of my mind. Uh So because my credentials have been evaluated and I have a good GPA. So I hope that goal might, will be achieved. It's a bit of a dream, but I hope so. And right now, I am enjoying the, the job that I'm currently doing. Uh Maybe I will go for a permanent teacher's job. Thank you. These are my uh present uh my future goals. Thank you.
