1. What is your educational background and what positions have you held? Please include the current school district and grade/s.
I received my undergraduate degree in teaching from Shippensburg University and immediately upon graduation went into daily substitute teaching. Over the course of almost ten years, I have serviced several local school districts substituting mainly at the elementary level and held several short-term/long-term substitute positions ranging from two Kindergarten placements, a 3rd grade placement, and two 5th grade placements. Currently, I serve as a 5th grade ELA and Social Studies teacher for the Shippensburg Area School District in Shippensburg, PA. It was upon being hired at Shippensburg SD that I began pursuing my graduate coursework. I chose to complete a Master’s in Education degree with Reading Specialist PK-12 Certification and Literacy Coaching Endorsement through Slippery Rock University utilizing their 100% online degree program.
2. Name one SRU experience, in general or specific to the field that you will never forget and explain why.
One SRU experience within the reading field that I will never forget is the assignment where I was to facilitate my colleague’s learning through the eyes of being a literacy coach. This assignment was given through the course ELEC 643 Advanced Literacy Coaching Practicum. In this assignment, I had to rely on my teaching experience, reading experience, and communication skills to become an effective literacy coach and provide my colleague with several literacy teaching strategies to improve their teaching practice. This experience provided real world application through the lens of a literacy coach and teaching professional. I was forced out of my comfort zone in several ways but came out of this experience with a deeper understanding of the role of literacy coach, my teaching abilities, and my potential to create change within the realm of literacy instruction. Within my school building and district, I am able to have more involved conversations based in literacy instruction to continue excelling my students forward in their learning.
3. Name an SRU faculty that had a positive influence on you and explain why.
Several SRU faculty members made my time and experiences with the university memorable but one SRU faculty member stands out above all others; Dr. Christine Walsh. I had the privilege of having Dr. Walsh for several courses throughout my time at SRU. The course that offered the most positive influence on me was through ELEC 643 Advanced Literacy Coaching Practicum as Dr. Walsh made me feel that I was capable of a role as literacy coach should I choose to pursue it further. It was through her feedback on my Coaching Cycles assignment that my studies, efforts, and hard work all became recognized. She embraced my adventures to complete this project and applauded my authentic ways of gaining the most experience possible within this project. It was through her kind comments encouraging me to continue using my coaching experiences to help others, whether it be informal or formal, that I began to feel purpose in my teaching of literacy and gaining of literacy skills. This has forever changed how I see literacy curriculum and instruction and how I use my inner voice/literacy knowledge base.
4. What initially piqued your interest in pursuing a degree in education?
From as early as I can remember, I was always working to learn as much as I could. I embraced being able to show and assist others to learn something new. Often others would comment how great I was working with children and how easy it seemed teaching them. Honestly, I can’t think of any other career that I wanted or even considered wanting to do for my life besides teaching in some manner. Originally, while still deciding in high school, I had planned to be a high school band teacher but upon enrolling for my undergraduate degree, it transitioned into elementary teaching with an emphasis on reading.
5. What do you love most about teaching?
The thing that I love most about teaching is the excitement I feel when I get to show my students something new, extend their learning, or when their “light bulb” goes off and they finally master what they have been learning. There is no other feeling like this. As a teacher, you hold opportunity for students to learn values and find their inner capabilities. I love being an ELA and Social Studies teacher because so much of our world can be explored through adventure and reading. Thinking critically encourages deep discussion and fosters continued searching to know more about the world around you.
6. What makes a great teacher?
What makes a great teacher is such a loaded question. To define it is subject to other’s opinions and viewpoints. In my viewpoint, what makes a great teacher is someone who continually looks for ways to show the world to their students through the eyes of joy, excitement, and adventure. It is that one person that students can rely on to follow through on their word, be there every day, and have their best interest at heart. A great teacher looks beyond academic grades and considers what skills students need to excel in the real world someday. The utmost important qualities are honesty, working hard, and resiliency. Knowing that I can affect just one person’s life in a positive manner provides reason enough to continue my career in education.
