Gregory Belmondo

After graduating in December 2008, I immediately did daily substitute work then interviewed and was offered an LTS (Long Term Sub) High School Spanish position. After those six weeks of LTS, I interviewed for an anticipated Spanish full-time position at the same school where I did my LTS work. After the interview, I was offered the position and here we are seven years later and I am enjoying every day of work teaching High School Spanish.

The most rewarding part of my job is seeing the kids grow daily as Spanish language learners. When the light bulb “turns on” and the students connect to the language in any mode of communication it really makes me proud that they have taken it upon themselves to want to become a bigger and better part of society.

I have been a mentor for another Spanish teacher, I am the sponsor of the High School Spanish Club, I am the 9th grade Boys Basketball coach and I have gone on to earn a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction.

My experience at Slippery Rock University prepared me tremendously for my career today. Being out in the field and networking with teachers, preparing for interviews, and relying and trusting what I learned from my professors in the College of Education all laid the foundation for me being the teacher that I am today and passing those values on to my students as well.

To the future graduates of Slippery Rock University: Trust what you have learned from the great professors at Slippery Rock University. You will be as prepared as you will ever need to be once you graduate from SRU. Strive for greatness in your classroom and put your future students first. There is no doubt in my mind that you will carry on the great reputation that SRU has with its educators in Pennsylvania and all over the country.

Don Jons

What has your career path been like? 
I started a teaching and coaching career in the Fall of 1966. After only 4 years I left the education field and entered the business world in sales. We sold hospital equipment for cystic fibrosis children and other breathing apparatus. I grew up in Grove City, soon found myself in Kansas City, Mo., then Denver, Colorado and then San Francisco, Calif where I still live with my family.
I am currently and have been the Vice President of Sales at Cytosport, the makers of Muscle Milk. I have had a very successful career in sales and marketing. I have served as VP sales for most of my career, leading sales teams with such large companies as Bristol Myers, Novartis, Pfizer etc. My physical education background gave me foundation in health care, at least to have basic understanding. Yet, was always able to maintain involvement in amateur baseball. That is much more difficult today in the business world due to time demands.

What is the most rewarding part of your job? 
Being around young student athletes was very rewarding which is why even after entering the business world I continued to coach amateur and college baseball.

What types of recognition, awards, honors or activities have you been involved in? 
I was awarded the Jack Williams Leadership award by American Legion Baseball for winning the National Championship in 2000. I was awarded the Major League Baseball National Championship award at Yankee Stadium by the Commissioner of Baseball, Sandy Alderson and Frank Robinson during the 2000 World Series. I have been selected in the San Ramon Valley Little League Hall of Fame, Danville, Calif. The Tri Valley Sports Hall of Fame located in the east bay of Northern California. I was a 2015 Inductee into the Mercer County, Pa. Athletic Hall of Fame.
Details are available at www.hootsbaseball.com and bio www.linkd

How did your experience at Slippery Rock University help you find your first position after graduation? Jobs were plentiful at the time due to the Vietnam war. And while I was drafted, did not serve was deferred due to a shoulder injury. I was very lucky I guess but the injury kept me from continuing in athletics. I/We grew up in a different era. My father worked in the Pa. coal mines, then the mill. I learned to do a lot with a little. I was not the best student, but I knew how to compete which is what you have to do in business to have some success.

What is your advice for future graduates? 
It is a big world today, made smaller by technology. In Northern California we are surrounded by all the technology companies. I think the young people today need to do a better job of personal communication. We all text, email, etc but your personality never comes thru in those methods. If you cannot communicate, articulate and engage with people it makes it a lot more difficult in the business world. 1966 was a long time ago, and I did not have the means or book knowledge of many of my class mates but I was never afraid to take a chance. Get out of my comfort zone, be flexible. That is key today as business changes so fast you have to continue to adapt. I have been thru 3 mergers and acquisitions and in every one of them I had new responsibility, new team members and new ownership. The last one was only a year ago, and at 71 while I do not need to continue to work and will exit in 2016, I find that my nature to compete lets me adapt to the change.
I have kept my friends who live in Grove City all these years, and enjoy traveling there a few times each year. My sister is a SRU grad and lives in Erie, and we only recently sold our parents’ home in Grove City when my mother passed away.
I have lived in California since 1971, first San Francisco and in Danville 25 miles out of the city since 1974. But I have never left my roots, what I learned as the son of an Italian coal miner, and a Graduate of Slippery Rock University.
Cleaning out my mother’s home recently, the pictures of the fraternity parties on the Slippery Rock River brought a big smile to my face. Those were great years, and left me with great memories.

Cheryl VanVoorhies

What has your career path been like?
I followed my teaching career path for 35 years post-graduation, going onto receive my master degree in Educational Leadership. The 10 years prior to retirement was spent as an Administrator at the middle school level. I am currently still teaching but in a different venue.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?
The most rewarding part of my job was when the student's came back to say thank you or during times where I have encountered them as adults being successful participants in society. It's the thank you's that make it all worthwhile.

What types of recognition, awards, honors or activities have you been involved in?
I received the “I make a Difference Award” as well as Sam's Club Teacher of the year award.

How did your experience at Slippery Rock University help you find your first position after graduation?
Actually the friendships I made at SRU helped me find my first teaching position. A group of us navigated south and all ended up getting teaching positions in the same area.

What is your advice for future graduates?
Do what you love-love what you do. The first year will be your hardest.

Aubrey Rader

What has your career path been like?
While earning my bachelor’s degree at SRU and working in the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership, I realized that I had a passion for working with college-aged students. After doing some research and meeting with the Career Education and Development office, I decided to pursue a master’s degree in higher education. I applied and was accepted into SRU’s Student Affairs program and while earning my maters worked in the Career Education and Development Office as a graduate assistant. My time in the CED as well as my time spent as an intern in the Career Services office at Duquesne prepared me for a career on a college campus. Shortly after graduating in 2014 I applied for and was offered a position as an admissions counselor in SRU’s undergraduate admissions office. I now serve as an Assistant Director of Undergraduate admissions and love my job!

What is the most rewarding part of your job?
The most rewarding part of my job is positively impacting the lives of both prospective and current SRU students. I love telling prospective students about SRU, my experience here and all the institution has to offer. In addition, I love supervising our offices student workers and helping them become more passionate about SRU and their futures.

What types of recognition, awards, honors or activities have you been involved in?
As an undergrad at SRU, I completed FLSP and the Compass Leadership Program, was in the honors program and served on their executive board, completed a leadership internship in the CSIL, and played on the club lacrosse team and served as the teams secretary and vice president. Within my community I serve as a member of the Harmony Fire District’s Auxiliary and help with a variety of youth education programs at my church.
I was on the dean’s list every semester of my undergraduate career, graduated suma cum laude and with honors from the honors program. I received various scholarships in both my undergraduate and graduate careers as well.
As a graduate student, I was a member of and served as the vice president of the Student Affairs Graduate Association. I presented at a career conference (PennACE) and had an article published in the AAEE Job Search Handbook.

How did your experience at Slippery Rock University help you find your first position after graduation?
Without the connections I made at SRU, I would not have found my first (and current) position after graduation. Because my position was posted as a temporary position, it was not widely advertised. Luckily, my connections in the career office contacted me when learning of the position and as a result gave me the opportunity to pursue the position. In addition, SRU gave me the content knowledge as well as the professional skills needed to be prepared for and succeed in my first post-graduation position.

What is your advice for future graduates?
My advice to future graduates would be to take advantage of everything! You never know what doors may be opened through attending a lecture, joining a club, or simply introducing yourself. College goes by fast and you don’t get a do-over, so take advantage of every opportunity presented to you and enjoy every minute!

Lauren McCracken

What year did you graduate from SRU and what was your major?
I graduated in the Spring of 2015 with a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education (Pre-K-4) and Special Education (Pre-K-8). 

What jobs have you landed?
I am a K-3 Special Education teacher at New Story. I teach students who have autism and emotional support diagnoses and I also teach Life Skills. Most of my students came to my school from public school to learn coping skills for their behaviors.

How did you prepare for the interview for the job you landed?
I took lots of samples of my work from student teaching to my interview. This included lesson plans, a mock IEP, and adapted materials for students who have autism. I also found interview questions online that teachers get asked often and thought about the best answer before going into the interview.

What have you done well at that job?
My student teaching experience in Autistic Support prepared me tremendously for my job! I use strategies that I learned during student teaching every day at my job.

What types of recognition, awards, honors or even activities have you been involved in?
My education directors at my school get a certain amount of tokens to hand out to teachers and staff who are doing a great job. I recently received my first token!

What SRU experience or faculty influenced you and in what way?
The entire Special Education department prepared me for my career. Creating a mock IEP helped me learn how to create obtainable goals and using PDE SAS in my classes helped me get better at differentiating lesson plans to meet the needs of my students.

What else can you tell us about your success story that SRU students could learn from?
Don't give up on your job search! Apply to every school that has openings in your field and always accept interviews. Even if you don't get the job, interviews are a great learning experience to prepare you for the next one!

Macey Ackman

What year did you graduate from SRU and what was your major?
I graduated in December of 2011 with my Bachelor's Degree in English Literature and May 2013 with my Master's in Education.

What jobs have you landed?
I interviewed over the phone the summer after graduation (2013) and then successfully landed the 7th grade writing position in Parker Unified School District in Parker, Arizona. Since then, I have taught multiple subjects for grades 6-8. This district is located on the Colorado River Indian Tribes Reservation and has a pretty even split of Native American and Hispanic students. 

How did you prepare for interviews?
My classes, interactions with mentors and peers about the interview process and various ‘"do's and do not's" for education-based interviews all helped prepare me for what to expect. Also attending job fairs advertised through the university helped prepare me by hearing the main buzzwords and phrases I’d continually hear throughout preliminary interviews.

What have you done well with your position?
I was able to start an intramural soccer league through the two elementary schools where we were able to get over 40 kids involved on three separate teams. After that went well, the district allowed me to continue with a traveling middle school team.

I’ve been the National Junior Honor Society sponsor, as well as student council for 4 years. I’ve been the liaison for my middle school's campus and various entities outside the school district, such as PAACE: Parker Area Alliance for Community Empowerment, the chamber of commerce, the local animal shelters, the Native American Tribal Council, the Parks and Rec. Dept.

Lastly, I've been able to start my own gifted class called Parker Planet Protectors where we focus on service learning, gardening, volunteer work and sustainability in a few different realms. We've interview Tribal Council about their past and what they can teach the younger generations, we were able to make a bulletin board made of recycled bottle caps that represent each individual tribe within the Colorado River Indian Tribes, and we were able to put on two sunrise hikes with breakfast and tribal dishes at our local P Mountain. That mountain is a 2 mile hike and reaches an elevation of 1,665 feet. I was able to get almost 30 kids to both hikes that we did last year. One other neat thing, I'm able to teach is the gifted class called Lego League, where my students compete in a robotics competition that also focuses around a real-world issue that they try to solve, all while learning coding and programming. We took first place at the regional competition last year that was held at Arizona Western College in Yuma, Arizona. This year's theme is Hydro Dynamics, so we will be coming up with ideas on how to solve problems revolving around the finding, use, transporting, and disposal of water around the globe.

What types of recognition, awards, honors or even activities have you been involved in?
The last few years I've been the Softball Coordinator on the Little League Board for Parker, AZ. In addition to coaching, I've been able to teach about 6 girls how to pitch for fast pitch softball as well. I started playing on a Co-Ed adult softball league in Lake Havasu City with some other teachers too. Parker is a diverse and interesting area, and a great place to begin teaching. I've learned a lot about myself, human nature, and the Southwestern United States. I'd suggest to any SRU students who are interested in moving for a teaching job to contact me because we have plenty of openings every year! We live right along the Colorado River in our own little paradise!

What SRU experience or faculty influenced you and in what way?
The Education department at SRU gives you a good look into what to expect as an educator in today’s world. You never really understand what it’s like to be in your own classroom until you’re in that moment, though. Every day becomes a new learning experience. 

Dr. Lacom, Dr. D DiMarco, and Dr. Permenter were all very influential, allowing me to see what good teaching looks like, but also how important it is to have your passion shine through in your teaching. Dr. Hicks was always able to give us a uniquely honest depiction of what to expect in our first few years in the classroom.

Dr. Mark Campbell was always helpful and a great advisor.

I was on the women’s rugby team while at SRU, and I have that experience to thank for finding my best friends. The familial atmosphere of the rugby club gave me the most amazing college experience I could have asked for, turning strangers into family.

Aubrey Held

What year did you graduate from SRU and what was your major?
May 2014, Health and Physical Education

What jobs have you landed?
A full-time teaching position at Pittsburgh Public School District


How did you prepare for the interview for the job you landed?
Used everything I had learned from being at SRU and the HPE department prepared us to make a portfolio and efolio which also helped me. I also researched the school/ area so I knew background information.


What have you done well at that job?
Maintaining class routines and procedures, developing a rapport and respect with my students/school, and bringing new and fun activities/ideas to the school!

What types of recognition, awards, honors or even activities have you been involved in? 
I was given the "unselfish" award at the end of the school year last year.. Meaning I did whatever I could for the students and thought of myself last. I was involved in PETE Club and FITT Club in college for a few semesters. I also maintained part time jobs throughout college and even today. As for other activities I enjoy playing with my dogs and exercising. 

What SRU experience or faculty influenced you and in what way?
The HPE Staff is amazing and was always there to help! Even after I landed the job I stayed in contact with my supervisor that I had during my student teaching. Make really good impressions during student teaching, those will be the contacts you turn to after graduation. I also recommend SRU to ALL my students because I had such a good and well rounded experience there. 

What else can you tell us about your success story that SRU students could learn from?
Connections really do help!!! Whoever you meet during field experience, student teaching, high school, friends, can help you when looking for a place in your field after graduation. Make very good and professional impressions, and do anything and everything to help. Be seen. Also, those last few times in college although it is coming to an end stay focused but don't forget to have fun!