Nichole Cropper

What year did you graduate from SRU and what was your major?
I graduated in May 2014 with a dual major in Early Childhood and Special Education.

What jobs have you landed?
I have worked at PA Cyber since July 2014. I started as a Special Education Academic Advisor. For this position I served families and guided them through orientations, scheduling classes, and being a point of contact for both parents and students. I recently interviewed and finally am teaching! I am now a Special Education Teacher for sixth grade students. I co-teach in sixth grade social studies and also have an IEP case load of students who I serve.

How did you prepare for the interview for the job you landed?
I prepared by reviewing special education related content such as the IEP timeline and IEP goals. I also practiced with some mock interview questions.

What have you done well at that job?
I am just getting started with teaching, but I received a positive evaluation from my previous supervisor. I also served the families to the best of my ability by staying after hours at times to help them and going above and beyond when possible.

What types of recognition, awards, honors or even activities have you been involved in?
I designed and taught enrichment courses at PA Cyber and received a recognition from the director of Gifted and Talented at PA Cyber as well as a parent! A parent loved my class so much that she reached out to him and shared.

What SRU experience or faculty influenced you and in what way?
I participated in the Mexico City Student Teaching program, and it changed my outlook on life! In addition to being submerged in a whole new culture for a month, I learned a lot in and out of the classroom. This experience was a life changer and really taught me much about diversity in and out of the classroom. I In addition to the diversity, I learned a lot about effective teaching and even had some takeaways to bring back to my classroom here in the US! If you have the opportunity to student teach abroad, take it and run!

What else can you tell us about your success story that SRU students could learn from?
Do what you can to make yourself stand out and go above and beyond. Reach out to new opportunities as much as you can. Make sure you spend that extra time to be there for your students and individuals will notice! Hard work and persistence really does pay off.

Kristina Kocis

What year did you graduate from SRU and what was your major?
I graduated in the Spring of 2013 with Elementary Education (K-6) and a minor in Exceptionalities.
What jobs have you landed?
 Immediately following graduation, I was hired at Moon Area School District as a 4th grade teacher at the age of 21.

How did you prepare for the interview for the job you landed?
 My experience as a student teacher in the district definitely helped me advance far in the interview process because I had a chance to get to know a lot about the school. Having family members and family friends coach me through a number of mock interviews using the most frequently asked questions from the internet also helped prepare me for the interviews. The more comfortable you are speaking in front of people and responding to scenario-type questions on your toes, the better off you will be in any interview.

What have you done well at that job?
 This is currently my 3rd year teaching in the Moon Area School District. I absolutely love my job, my students, and the wonderful people I get the pleasure of working with each day. Our staff is amazing and we are doing some really great things in Moon! The shift to the PA Core leads to higher expectations from both students and teachers. I feel that I have progressed my teaching with each year as I gain more experience. Hard work, passion, dedication, organization, and going the extra mile are some qualities that all good teachers I know share.

What types of recognition, awards, honors or even activities have you been involved in?
 During my time at MASD, I have been involved in many school activities, but to name a few - hosting an after-school remediation program, coordinating our elementary talent show, breakfast monitoring, field days, McTeachers night, Backpack programs, and Read-a-Thon night. Our school will also be receiving recognition for becoming a Blue Ribbon School and I could not be more proud to be a part of the great things that go on at McCormick Elementary each and every day.

What SRU experience or faculty influenced you and in what way?
 Getting involved with as many on and off campus activities as possible made my time at SRU so memorable. Academically, my College of Ed Block 2 and 3 professors influenced me greatly. Being a part of a PDS school like Sharon for Block 3 really helped me gain some good experience at a young age as we had the change to work with children a few times per week after our on-site classes. One professor in particular made a difference in my college education in 2013, and again today as I have the pleasure of working with her in my Reading Specialist / Instruction Literacy Coaching graduate program at SRU. If you have the opportunity to get to know Dr. DuPont, I am certain she will touch your life the way she touched mine.

What else can you tell us about your success story that SRU students could learn from?
 I just want to stress to future educators the importance of what they do. Enter this field because you have a passion for changing the lives of children. Stick with it. Get involved. Make a difference. And most importantly, never give up on getting the job of your dreams. Timing is everything. Choose a school to student teach in that is in an area that you could see yourself living and working in. Make your job your passion and you will never work a day in your life! Best of luck to all of the future SRU Educators. Represent THE ROCK well and be PROUD of your alma mater!

Joshua Zupon

What has your career path been like?

I currently teach at the Tyrone Area School District in Tyrone, PA. It is located in Blair County right in-between State College and Altoona. I’ve been a Special Education teacher the whole time. I have taught Learning Support, Autistic Support, Life Skills Support, and Multi-disabilities Support. I have degrees in Elementary and Special Education from SRU.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Nothing is more rewarding than seeing the kids' growth, and also their smiles. It makes my job. To see them smile and succeed keeps me coming back for more each and every day. I also love to see them fit in and grow as students and people.

What types of recognition, awards, honors or activities have you been involved in?

Awards:

*WALY 103.9 Teacher of the Month

·    * 3 times Middle School Soar Teacher of the Month

·    *POPS Outstanding Employee Recognition Award (Teacher of the Year)

·    *Tyrone High School Renaissance Teacher of the Month

I coached Varsity football, Junior High Basketball, and Varsity Track and Field.

 

How did your experience at Slippery Rock University help you find your first position after graduation?

Being a Slippery Rock COE Graduate got me my first job. I used all of my experience gained in student teaching and field work for the interview. I was extremely prepared and ready to work. My professors taught me a plethora of valuable information and made me the teacher I am today. I recommend SRU to everyone who I talk to.

What is your advice for future graduates?

Work hard at all times. You never know who is watching. Also, "please" and "thank you" go a long way. Use your manners. The last thing I would tell them is always be prepared (or over prepared), and treat the students with respect. Let them know you care!

Lauren Hedderman

What year did you graduate from SRU and what was your major?
2013- Health and Physical Education

What jobs have you landed?
Health and Physical Education Teacher in Pittsburgh, PA

How did you prepare for the interview for the job you landed?
Besides the basic interview checklist, I made sure to use my experiences to my advantage. The program was very interactive and hands on, that’s what we’re all about.

What have you done well at that job?
I can truly say I stand out amongst my peers as far as pedagogy and the program goes. I owe that to Slippery Rock University.

What types of recognition, awards, honors or even activities have you been involved in?
I played women’s rugby at SRU, which were some of the best moments I’ve ever experienced. I was a presenter at the PSAPERD State Convention. I also was a member of the PETE Club and listed on the Dean’s List.

What SRU experience or faculty influenced you and in what way?
Dr. Hannah Brewer is an outstanding educator and is dedicated to not only the field, but her students. She taught me knowledge and confidence goes hand in hand. Also, Dr. Randy Nichols told me to never give up on anything, which really stuck with me. It’s one of the most simple, yet best life lessons I have ever learned.

What else can you tell us about your success story that SRU students could learn from?
You don’t realize the level of attention and thought of each course within the Health and Physical Education curriculum until you working right in the field. I come into work each morning excited and confident I am making a difference when it comes to my students. I wouldn’t trade my decision in choosing SRU to further my education for one second. It was an experience I’ll never forget.