By Zainab Al-Zubiadi, class of 2026
The field of education is filled with plenty of challenges, setbacks and victories, both big and small. Brody Mueller ’25 is the current care program director in Crete, Nebraska, and believes that every day is about making a difference in the lives of students who need it most. Despite initially choosing the special education pathway somewhat randomly, his passion for the field grew immensely during his practicum experiences and classes at Doane.
The Doane motto, “we build leaders,” stands very true for Mueller as a postgraduate. Mueller, who was a soccer captain for three years and member of SALT (Student Athlete Leadership Team), was very familiar with leading and the challenges associated with it. His leadership abilities were immediately tested post-graduation after being thrown into a leadership position right away.
At his job, he oversees two students within the specialized care program. In this position, he is responsible for tracking their progress, maintaining good communication with families and school officials, and ensuring students receive the support they need.
“I owe Doane a lot of thank-yous for giving me the opportunity to be a long-term sub as a practicum student, as well as letting me student teach right away as the program coordinator,” said Mueller, reflecting on his time at Doane.
He expresses deep gratitude for the hands-on learning experiences that shaped him in his job.
“The courses and studies that I did were very hands-on. It wasn’t a lot of lecturing, it was trial and error with all my classmates and professors. That really shaped me and built my confidence going into my first year of teaching,” said Mueller.
In addition to his undergraduate experiences, Mueller has earned 12 master’s credits through Doane, furthering his educational endeavors. However, he continues to learn many new things through his job as well. He emphasizes that much of what he knows comes directly from the students he works with.
“I’ve probably learned more from my students about how they cope, and coping strategies that work for them since it’s a lot of trial and error,” he said.
His first year in education was a learning curve, but with time, he has discovered strategies and coping skills to help students navigate their emotions more effectively.
“What works for one student isn’t going to work for another,” he said.
Mueller further emphasizes the importance of treating his students as individuals with their own particular needs. He finds that this strategy is the most effective in helping the students overcome certain challenges. He aspires to be the foundational person his students need. This is important to him since he’s known many students who don’t enjoy school or desire to be there. Mueller’s focus on being a comfort person for his students allows them to feel safe and motivates them to show up.
Education is something that Mueller will not be giving up anytime in the near future. Within the next five to 10 years, he envisions himself continuing on his journey as an educator. Building relationships and connections in the field of behavior is important to him.
Mueller is very familiar with the notion of relationship building and working with others, as that is something Doane allowed him to experience during his undergraduate years. He recalls countless hours of soccer training and how that gave him the chance to grow bonds with teammates that still remain to this day.
“I was treated like family when I came here,” he reflected.
The prevalence of these bonds remains for Mueller, as he remains in regular contact with his former teammates, classmates and professors.
The most impactful lesson he received at Doane was creating a balance between his work in education and personal life.
“I’ll stay late if I have to but I will never bring work home," Mueller said.
He strongly emphasizes the importance of stepping away from work during his time off.
While this is now a staple to his job, he didn’t always believe this mentality. At the beginning of his education journey, Mueller would often take work home.
“All of the trauma would come home with me," Mueller said. "I learned this semester that it’s important to take time for myself.”
To recharge, he prioritizes self-care by reading, walking his dog and continuing to advocate for men’s mental health.
For current Doane students considering a career in education, Mueller’s advice is simple yet powerful: “It’s worth it,” he says. He acknowledges the challenges that come with teaching, but it’s the small victories that make it fulfilling. Finding victories in the day, no matter how small, reminds Mueller why he continues to pursue education.
Mueller wants to continue his education journey as a teacher for the next few years. His ultimate goal is to be a principal one day. He remains driven by the Doane motto “We build leaders,” and is living proof that leadership opportunities during his undergraduate years have shaped him into the impactful educator he is today.
