Emily Myers

 

Where are you teaching? What subjects and grades?
I graduated in May of 2017, completing the Early Childhood (PK-4) and Special Education (PK-8) dual major. I am certified to teach in the state of Pennsylvania! Initially, I accepted a job as a preschool instructor for Beaver County Head Start. A few weeks in, I got an email from a school district about a few paraprofessional openings and decided to apply. I was offered a job, and although I loved the preschool and was unsure where I would be placed within the district, I took a leap of faith. I am currently an Educational Paraprofessional in the Quaker Valley School District. I work in the high school life skills classroom with students in grades 9-12.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your job? What positive experiences have you had?
The most rewarding part of my job is getting to spend every day with twelve of the most incredible kids I have ever met. Being able to develop relationships with these particularly unique students is something that is so special to me. Every single day at school, the students remind me that to be different is to be beautiful. Students with special needs teach us far more than we could ever teach them. In the classroom, we laugh constantly, embrace uniqueness, forgive quickly, support one another, serve our community, choose kindness, work hard, share thoughts, and do not let anybody go unnoticed. I am so lucky that I work with a group of individuals who live their lives with grace and purpose.

What advice would you give to current students who are enrolled in the teacher preparation program, and to SRU students in general?
To students in general: it is okay to not feel like your major defines you. There is so much pressure on us to LOVE what we are studying. As an education major, I was surrounded by incredible women and men who would eat, sleep, and breathe teaching. I used to envy those people, and thought that there was something wrong with me because I never felt that way. In fact, for a few years I even considered changing my major. In every field experience, I felt like it was “work.” I was happy, but not ecstatic like my peers. I loved the kids, mentors, and host teachers, but the teaching part was “just okay” for me.

That “just okay” feeling made me question if I was in the right profession, until I decided that my major did not have to define me. I was putting way too much pressure on myself to be head over heels for teaching. I had to learn to trust my gut. You are in your major for a reason. There is SOMETHING drawing you to that major. It took me graduating, accepting a preschool job, and then working in high school special education to ultimately discover what I enjoy! Even if you are not initially in love with your profession, it does not mean that you can’t be great at what you do. Now, I AM in love with what I do, and I could not imagine my life any differently.

Name an SRU experience or faculty that had a positive influence on you and explain why.
One of my absolute favorite people is Dr. Snyder. There are not enough great things I can say about Robert Snyder to show how truly wonderful he is. First of all, his class is entertaining, fun, and informative. He is a perfect example of a teacher who is truly passionate about his material and about education in general. Second, he CARES. There is nothing that Dr. Snyder isn’t willing to talk about. He puts time and effort into us as students, educators, and human beings. Third, Dr. Snyder is a FANTASTIC leader. I was lucky enough to travel with a group of students to Mexico for a month to finish student teaching. The group was lead by Dr. Snyder. While we were there, no problem was too big or small for him. He went out of his way to make sure that we were all safe, healthy, and enjoying our trip. Even after the trip, he has mentored me on several big life events since I have graduated. Dr. Snyder has truly made an everlasting impact on my life.

What makes a great teacher?
What makes a good teacher is a humble heart, a sense of humor, and a grateful attitude. First of all, having a humble heart is a teacher’s biggest strength. That is a teacher who is able to accept feedback, is willing to learn and reflect, is able to admit faults, and is always striving to be the best possible educator. Even after we graduate, we are never too old or too experienced to listen to advice from our mentors. Furthermore, a teacher needs to have a sense of humor. We make mistakes, forget our lunches at home, teach students who are having "off" days, and the copier breaks…again. We have to be able to “roll with it” and laugh at ourselves. Keeping a positive attitude and a good sense of humor helps educators stay lighthearted and maintain a positive teaching environment. Last, a great teacher has a grateful attitude. We will never be rich. We work long hours. We may never be able to dye our hair without a student telling us that they “liked it better before,” but we are grateful. Positivity is contagious, so we must practice what we preach in the classroom. Teachers must model and adopt the same attitudes that they want their students to have. When a teacher embraces a grateful attitude, students learn to become more grateful too.