A Day in the Life

A Day in the Life shares stories from APEP students, faculty, and staff. These stories aim to give insight into APEP: how it works, and how it impacts participants.

APEP TEACHER PERSPECTIVE

Alex Stone

1. What inspired you to get involved in providing educational opportunities to incarcerated individuals through the APEP program?

I was drawn to the challenge of being able to teach in a restricted environment with students who aim to reach academic excellence. I was drawn to the responsibility of creating a learning environment where students are treated as capable scholars rather than defined by their circumstances.

2. Did your students teach you anything new about your field? What? How?

Almost all my students were older than me. They taught me a lot more about life itself than just the confines and limits of my field. They've taught me what it truly means to be motivated and they brought real world insight into the classroom.They indirectly helped me align my beliefs in educational access and equity

3. What most challenged you while teaching in prison? Was that challenge a surprise?

Lack of access to technology. Hands down. I never realized how much I use technology in class until I started at the East Moline campus. The challenge was expected but I didn't truly realize its importance until I started. It really does cut off the students from easily accessible information found on the outside.

4. Based on your teaching experience, are you motivated to do anything differently? If yes, explain.

Prior to teaching at the East Moline campus, I had only taught one class at the Rock Island Campus. My teaching background was new/limited and I was nervous that I lacked experience. However, I received positive feedback and looking back, I wish I wouldn't have let my nerves get to me initially. My personal experiences with the prison system and my life experience helped bridge the gap during my class and helped create realistic examples pertaining to the content.

5. What do you want people on the "outside" to know about students on the inside?

They are students like anyone else. I went in with no expectations, knowing my duty as an educator but not knowing the lasting impact the students would have on my life and my career. They have made me a better educator, better communicator, and a better person. These students are brothers, fathers, sons, and now, Augustana students/graduates. We're all just people searching for guidance, meaning, and purpose in our lives and I will encourage anyone to search for their "why" in this chaos we call "life."

Sidenote:

I was pregnant with twins during this term. A lot of people ask me about what it was like being 20 weeks pregnant at the prison -- "were you scared?" To those who ask, the only thing I can say is that I am a better mother because of it. It sharpened my sense of purpose and clarified the values I want to carry into motherhood. Being in that environment required me to be present, emotionally regulated, and intentional -- skills that have translated directly into becoming a more patient and thoughtful parent. Working at the East Moline campus during pregnancy did not feel limited; it felt strengthening. It made me more patient, more reflective, and more committed to leading with empathy and purpose -- both as an educator and as a mother.

Posted December 2025