After more than a decade of shaping young minds as a high school teacher, Lindsey Miller is changing careers and setting a new path toward HR. While HR may seem worlds apart from teaching, Miller has discovered that her background in education is a solid foundation for her next chapter.
CARVING A NEW PATH
鈥淚鈥檓 drawn to HR because it offers opportunities for teachers like me to apply transferrable skills like handling multiple tasks and communication,鈥� she said.
After exploring her options for credentials to boost her resume, she chose CTPE鈥檚 HR Management Certificate, which covers everything from HR law and ethics to performance management and talent acquisition. For Miller, these courses have been essential in equipping her with the knowledge she needs to enter the world of HR confidently.
DISCOVERING A NICHE
Originally from Slidell, LA, Miller earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in mathematics from Louisiana State University. After eight years of teaching in her home state, she was ready for change and moved to Orlando.
She found a position teaching a financial algebra class at a nearby high school and has been educating students with practical math skills ever since. While she鈥檚 passionate about working with students and preparing them for real-world subjects such as wages, insurance, and taxes, Miller is excited to pivot into a career that offers her more work-life balance.
Among the various topics included in the HR Management certificate, Miller found one area particularly intriguing鈥� compensation.
鈥淚 enjoy working with numbers, so compensation is an area I feel drawn to,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 also find risk management interesting because it aligns with the logical thinking and problem-solving skills I use daily as a teacher.鈥�
Through the program, Miller discovered that she could not only put her mathematical mind to good use but also use her interpersonal skills to transition seamlessly into HR.
EXPANDING HER PERSPECTIVE
Alongside class meetings, presentations, and discussions, Miller supplemented her learning experience with an unexpected resource鈥損odcasts.
One of her instructors, Kelley Rexroad, hosts 鈥�?,鈥� a weekly podcast produced in partnership with CTPE and Innovation Education Studios. Miller listened to the entire collection, starting with episodes from 2021.
鈥淚 love the variety of speakers and perspectives Kelley brought to the podcast,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 listened while driving to work, heading home, or doing cardio at the gym.鈥�
From workplace equity laws for pregnant employees to navigating elder care, Rexroad and her guests cover a wide span of topics, showing how many areas of life HR touches.
Using this approach, Miller mastered the fundamentals of HR in her classes while gaining insight into the practical aspects of the industry and the nuances of its current environment.
BUILDING CONNECTIONS
Miller also valued the diverse perspectives of her peers in the program. Her classmates included banking, talent acquisition, manufacturing, and healthcare professionals.
鈥淎s someone without prior HR experience, I appreciated hearing the perspectives of seasoned professionals who have worked in the field for years,鈥� she said.
KEYS TO SUCCESS
Miller encourages others interested in the HR Management Certificate to fully engage with the program鈥檚 resources, including forming connections with classmates and instructors.
鈥淭ake advantage of every opportunity,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he podcast is a great add-on to the classes and helps provide a well-rounded view of HR.鈥�
To learn more about the HR Management Certificate, visit the website for more details.