A Community of Support: Professor William Bratberg and Tyson Roth on Mentorship at SEMO 

Over the last 22 years, William Bratberg, EdD, has become known for a lot of things aroundSoutheast Missouri State University’s education department — his glorious beard, the candy dishes in his classrooms and his trademark floral-print shirts, just to name a few of his most recognizable traits.

But according to Tyson Roth, a high school math teacher and SEMO alum, Bratberg is most known for being his students’ biggest supporter, whether they need help in class or advice from a colleague once they’ve started their careers. 

Building Relationships in the Classroom 

As an educator who taught middle and high school students for 26 years, Bratberg brings plenty of invaluable experience to every middle education, secondary education, and educational leadership class he teaches. But no matter what the lesson of the day is, he always starts things off the same way. 

“I purposely come to class early and try to talk to everybody in the room. Sooner or later, I kind of grow on you,” Bratberg says jokingly about his teaching style. 

Bratberg isn’t just making small talk with his students. He’s curating a classroom culture, one built on understanding and respect. “You take a genuine interest in kids, and you’re not afraid to share something about yourself,” he says. 

He stresses the importance of this to his students as well. 

“What I try to help my students understand is that you need to make those kiddos in the classroom part of your in-group,” he says, explaining that this can help with everything from engagement to classroom management. “Everybody feels like they’ve been seen, and you know what’s going on.” 

Bratberg’s personal and student-centered approach was a big reason Roth felt so at home at SEMO when he arrived as a middle school math major in the Bachelor of Science in Education — Mathematics program. “Bratberg was one of those people I was just able to connect with,” Roth says. “He made me feel important. And that just escalated into building a meaningful relationship.” 

Student Teaching with Confidence 

As is true of many SEMO education students, Roth completed his student teaching requirement during his senior year. For the most part, he was ready, equipped with strong content knowledge and classroom management skills. However, he was slated to teach at Danby-Rush Tower Middle School in Festus, Missouri, a school that integrates robots into its math lessons. To excel, Roth needed to learn how to do that.  

Bratberg ensured that he did. 

“He started me on getting robotics integrated into the classroom with the EDvolution Center,” Roth says. 

SEMO’s EDvolution Center is a space where students can learn how to use and experiment with 3D printers, virtual reality headsets, and other technologies that foster classroom engagement. Roth used some of the center’s robots to create a hands-on lesson about circumference for students in the Perry County School District, in Perryville, Missouri. 

This experience not only helped Roth prepare for his student teaching assignment, but it also gave him something impressive to add to his resume. The district loved the lesson so much they formally adopted it into their curriculum. 

Ushering Students Into the Workforce 

Roth’s student teaching experience and the support he received from faculty members such as Bratberg were a big help when it was time for him to enter the workforce. In fact, before he graduated, Roth had already found a way to get his foot in the door of a school district. 

One of the teachers he worked with while he was student teaching was getting ready to go on maternity leave. Roth was prepared to fill in for her as a long-term substitute. However, that plan started changing on graduation day. 

“I was taking pictures with my family, and Dr. Bratberg called me and said, ‘Hey, I have an administrator here who wants to interview you,’” Roth says about the day, adding that the administrator wanted him to take on a high school math teacher position. “I took a couple more pictures and then went to Bratberg.” 

Unfortunately, the administrator had left by the time Roth made it over to Bratberg. Two weeks later, though, he had interviewed for and secured the position. 

“Their word and their reputation and what I built with them was basically what got me the job before I even walked in the door,” Roth says, referring to both Bratberg and his former high school principal, Chris Hoehne.  

Bratberg and Hoehne had counseled Roth about the importance of taking a permanent job and brought him to the attention of his new employer. It wasn’t his original plan, but instead of having a part-time substitute job, Roth had begun his teaching career in earnest, benefits and all. 

Coming Full Circle 

Two years after he graduated, Roth returned to SEMO to earn his Master of Arts in educational leadership. But because he was a full-time high school teacher, a football coach and a student council sponsor, he decided to complete his studies through SEMO’s flexible online master’s program. 

Roth’s connection with Bratberg and SEMO has stayed strong since then. Roth takes students from Ste. Genevieve High School, in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, where he currently teaches a cadet teaching course, to the SEMO Future Teacher’s Day events (sometimes wearing floral-print shirts), and Bratberg sends many of his students to Ste. Gen for their student teaching experiences. 

Roth also teaches a school leadership class in which students develop and manage school improvement projects. One year, Roth, his students and one of Bratberg’s student teachers came up with an idea for improving the seating in one of the high school’s common areas. Roth’s students pitched the idea to Bratberg and other SEMO faculty to get funding from the University. They succeeded. 

“It was all around a full-circle moment,” Roth says.  

Roth isn’t the only one to have a full-circle moment with Bratberg. Visitors to SEMO, Ste. Gen and other area schools will see plenty of Bratberg’s current and former students donning their own floral-print shirts in tribute to their much-beloved mentor. Roth even presented Bratberg with an official Ste. Gen-branded one. 

Fashion critics may disagree with this trend, but in eastern Missouri, floral print never goes out of style. It’s a symbol of the cycle of mentorship and support that Roth, like Bratberg, keeps alive. 

Become the Educator or Administrator Your Students Can Count On 

During his time in Southeast Missouri State University’s education programs, Tyson Roth saw firsthand how educators like William Bratberg, EdD, can have a lasting effect on their students’ lives. He also learned the skills he needed to be able to do that himself. 

Through SEMO Online, more education professionals than ever can get that same student-centered, community-oriented education. From prelicensure teachers to seasoned administrators, professionals and future professionals at every stage of their careers can find a degree program that’s right for them at SEMO Online. 

To learn more about SEMO Online’s education degree programs, request more information today. 

Recommended Readings 

7 Essential Teacher Skills 
Types of Teaching Certifications 
What Can I Do With a Master’s in Educational Leadership?