1. What is your educational background and what positions have you held? Please include the current school district and grade/s.
After graduating from Slippery Rock in 2020, I moved to Southpointe and began teaching for a school that I student taught with. This was during the start of the COVID pandemic, so my student teaching location was moved to cyber. I had never thought about teaching cyber before this! After becoming a long term Math and Science substitute for PA Cyber Charter School, I realized how much I enjoyed it. I ended up with a 4th grade Virtual Teacher position with PA Cyber. I have taught 4th grade Language Arts and Social Studies for almost three years now, and I absolutely love it! At first, it was a challenge to try to use engagement in different ways in a cyber setting. I have developed so much creativity within this job, and found a deeper passion in teaching than I ever thought was possible. I am currently going back to Slippery Rock online to pursue my Masters Degree in ABA- Applied Behavioral Analysis.
2. Name one SRU experience, in general or specific to the field, that you will never forget and explain why.
I will never forget my field experience at Emily Brittain Elementary School in Butler. I remember feeling so nervous to be teaching in a Kindergarten classroom. At that point, I did not have a lot of experience with this grade level. This was a turning point for me because I remember walking in on the first day feeling like I was not cut out for it. It was a very large class with a variety of different behaviors to monitor. With the help from an amazing cooperating teacher at Emily Brittain and guidance from my professor, I walked out of that classroom on the last day of teaching feeling so beyond confident in my teaching abilities.
3. Name an SRU faculty that had a positive influence on you and explain why.
Dr. Lynch was amazing! He was great at connecting with the class on a relatable and an emotional level. I will never forget the quotes about strength through adversity and how engaged I felt with his lessons. "Tough times don't last, but tough people do" was a quote that sticks with me.
4. What initially piqued your interest in pursuing a degree in education?
I have always felt a drive to want to be better than what I had experienced in school, and to help children learn and grow. When I was in elementary school, I mostly remember my teachers making me feel negative more often than positive. I never fully felt comfortable or cared for at school as a kid. I want to help students not only build their knowledge, but also learn that they are loved, appreciated, and accepted. In my classroom today, all of my students know that I respect them and care for them always!
5. What do you love most about teaching?
My favorite thing about teaching is getting to see the difference in confidence that my students build with me throughout the year. I love hearing from families that their child is more confident after being in my class! I try to implement a growth mindset in my classroom to show them that it is okay not to know how to do something yet. A lot of times I notice that students will get less frustrated when faced with a challenge at the end of the year.
6. What makes a great teacher?
A great teacher is patient and curious. As teachers, we are always learning along with our students! Teaching is not all about the curriculum. Most of the time, it is about meeting a student where they are, and believing in them.
