Nicole Thompson

What has your career path been like?
I graduated from SRU in 1995 after doing my student teaching in Dublin - an experience I still treasure/value. I taught in public schools in Western PA for the next few years and then moved to North Carolina. When I moved to North Carolina, I started teaching in Independent/Private Schools. After teaching in NC for about 10 years, I moved into administration. Currently, I am the Director of the Lower School at Duke School in Durham, North Carolina. Duke School is a progressive school, serving 500 students focused on project based learning. (www.DukeSchool.org)

What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Being with great kids is the best part of my job! I love watching them grow, evolve and learn -- what could be me rewarding!

How did your experience at Slippery Rock University help you find your first position after graduation?
I think the power of sharing about my international student teaching experience was valuable. Also, I think I left SRU knowing that teaching was going to be hard work, but that it would be very rewarding as well.

What is your advice for future graduates?
Never stop being a learner! When I interview potential teaching candidates, I am most intrigued by those who are engaged in their own professional growth. Along those same lines, take advantage of all professional development opportunities that you can - engaging in discussion with other educators is essential for growth!

Natalie Burick

After graduating from Slippery Rock from my undergraduate program I immediately started my graduate program, here at SRU in k-12 school counseling. I loved both of the programs I completed here at the ROCK and would recommend them to anyone. I am a proud alumnus.

Currently I am back at the ROCK working as an Assistant Director in Housing and Residence Life. I am also currently the Interim Director of faculty-led programs out of the Office of Global Engagement. I have been truly lucky to have such a great career so far. The most rewarding part of my job is working with students and creating relationships with them. I love when I can help them and make a meaningful impact on their SRU career. When I receive phone calls and emails from parents and students thanking me for assisting their child, that makes this all worth it for me.

In my undergraduate program I received a scholarship award from the Special Education Department. I am also currently a Doctorate student at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, majoring in administration and leadership studies and I recently received an award and scholarship for academic excellence. I am happy to be continuing my education within the state system. I am midway completed with the program and look forward to future possibilities with an advanced degree.

Slippery Rock helped me build a network of professionals, within the education and counseling field, so I could easily continue my career path. You start working in the field very early which helps you create a good network for future references and even job possibilities. I also created a great network with the faculty and staff here at SRU which also greatly helped me find a career relatively quickly after graduation.

My best advice for future graduates is to always put your best foot forward, work hard, and get involved as much as possible. Create strong ties to the institution so you can call on your former faculty for references. I love the ROCK and everything they stand for, without my strong ties and connections I would never be back here working at an institution I love so much.

Melanie Hughes

What has your career path been like?
I graduated with my Bachelor’s Degree in Early, Elementary and Special Education December 17, 2011. As I was preparing for rehearsal, I received a call from Stafford County Public Schools in Stafford County VA offering me a job beginning January 2, 2012. I accepted the position as Early Childhood Special Education Teacher (ECSE) at Stafford County Head Start. I continue to work in that position today. I work with a set number of students with IEPs along with collaborate with teachers for students who may be struggling. Our Head Start has 2 Early Head Start Classrooms, 1 Early Head Start Home bound teacher, 4 three year old classrooms and 13 four year old classrooms. We also have an ECSE classroom that has a smaller number of students; we have a speech pathologist and my position as an ECSE Teacher/Primary Support Teacher. We work with children of a variety of disabilities as well as work with the families to help them with strategies to support their child at home. I also have the opportunity to do private behavior therapy since earning my Master’s Degree in Special Education/Autism from Slippery Rock in January 2015.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Having over 300 children ages 2-5 say good morning to me every morning, or saying they miss me when I am out of the building. I love hearing from Kindergarten teachers of children who I had worked extremely hard with on behaviors and academics, tell me that they are doing wonderful things in Kindergarten. I love hearing the parents express how much of a difference they see in their children throughout the year or two they are with me. It is a very challenging and exhausting job, but the rewards outweigh the challenges.

What types of recognition, awards, honors or activities have you been involved in?
I have received numerous compliments and staff awards from my coworkers. I have been able to participate in numerous seminars and conferences on various topics in Special Education all over the state of Virginia as well as present at seminars for conferences or my coworkers.

How did your experience at Slippery Rock University help you find your first position after graduation?
My experience at Slippery Rock has helped me more than just the "typical" ways of helping me find a position. Yes, I did mock interviews, had a great rock solid education, resume assistance, and job fairs. But more than that, my experience has made me break out of my introverted shell and be more outgoing, I received an honest and open education which allowed for me to learn from some of the best professors out there, I've learned to feel comfortable with who I am as a teacher. Slippery Rock has helped mold me into the teacher I am today. I cannot imagine where I would be without my Slippery Rock Education.

What is your advice for future graduates?
Be flexible and willing to relocate. ENJOY LIFE!

Lisa Hoffman

What has your career path been like? 
My name is Lisa Hoffman and I had originally completed a degree in Criminal Justice, but throughout that entire period of schooling I found myself volunteering and being drawn to opportunities working with children. I chose to go back to school at SRU as a Post-Bacc for Elementary Education and Special Education. Throughout my time at SRU, I worked part-time with the Grove City YMCA's child care department in their School-Age program. Upon graduation in 2012, I was able to transition into the position of School-Age and Day Camp Site Director. I remained in that position for two years, but when my family grew by two with the birth of our twins I chose to step down and pursue an opportunity with Keystone SMILES AmeriCorps at George Junior Republic in Grove City, PA as an AmeriCorps tutor in reading and math. My experience there was more than I could have hoped for and I really enjoyed the one-on-one teaching opportunities that I had with the youth as well as the teachers and other people that I met through the experience. I was offered a long-term substitute position at George Junior Republic upon the completion of my AmeriCorps term, but quickly realized that the particular classroom setting and age level was not where my heart was at during this time of life for my family. The Grove City YMCA gladly welcomed me back into my former position of School-Age Site Director and I know that this is where my calling as an educator is supposed to be.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?
The most rewarding part of this job is that I have the opportunity to watch and help the children grow sometimes from as early as six weeks old! Before having my own children, I felt like I had anywhere from 35 to 90 children of my own depending on the time of year! The trust that I have been able to build with the families over the years makes me feel good knowing that the parents can go to work each day knowing that their child is in good hands with us at the YMCA. Through the YMCA, I feel that I get the best of both worlds in the education field. I had a parent tell me once that her daughter asked to start taking an apple for her after school snack every day and when the mom asked her why, she said, "Because Miss Lisa eats one every day." It really warmed my heart knowing that I was having a positive influence on her because of the healthy choices that I was making in hopes of being a good role model for the children that we serve.

What types of recognition, awards, honors or activities have you been involved in? 
Through my volunteering with the youth sports programs within the YMCA, I earned the Youth Development Employee of the Year Award in 2011. Through my service with AmeriCorps, I was able to help bring a group of members to the YMCA to help ready a part of their playground for grass to be planted in order for the children to have an additional outdoor space to play in.

How did your experience at Slippery Rock University help you find your first position after graduation?
I feel that because I worked part-time with the YMCA during my years at SRU, I was able to apply many of the best practices that I learned through my classes and field experiences to what I was doing with the children at the YMCA. This allowed my supervisors to see that I had what it takes to transition into the School-Age Site Director position. I am still able to keep in touch with former professors and they have given me multiple resources to help me along the way.

What is your advice for future graduates? 
My advice would be to keep an open mind about the types of teaching opportunities that are available to you out there. I had big dreams of teaching in a traditional elementary classroom, but my love for the YMCA programs grew as I gave everything I had and learned more about what the programs do for the children and families who are a part of them. Give 100% to every opportunity that you have working with children throughout your time at SRU no matter if it is through a field experience in a traditional classroom setting where you are being graded or working part-time in a School-Age program to gain a little extra money through college. Treat these experiences the same because you are changing children's lives in both of them. Coming from personal experience, you may not be getting a grade for your part-time job outside of your college course load, but there are constantly people in the community, principals, custodians, and other teachers who are critiquing your ability to work with children and people in general and could make or break you in your future career search. Introduce yourself to everyone you meet and make people remember you for the positive changes that you have made for the children that you have served.

Laura Remaly

What has your career path been like?
I started my career in my chosen field (physical education/lifetime fitness) at Slippery Rock. I was a director of Wellness and Fitness in several large corporations for over 15 years. In addition to providing comprehensive wellness and fitness services to corporate employees, I trained and managed quite a few new and upcoming fitness professionals. I also served on several Wellness industry executive boards and was a featured speaker nationwide.
Now I own my own business with my husband (Bicycle retail store). I still work in the Wellness Industry as the director of Wellness Coaching for a small company and I also teach spin classes for fun!

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

Helping people and making a difference in other people's lives

What types of recognition, awards, honors or activities have you been involved in? 
I was named as an officer to several state, regional and international boards of wellness/fitness associations. Named a "Outstanding Fellow" by the Association for Worksite Health Promotion. Also, recently named to the SRU Sports Hall of Fame (2015).

How did your experience at Slippery Rock University help you find your first position after graduation?
I received an excellent educational background to qualify for the job and also was able to secure an internship in a Corporation to get my foot in the door.

What is your advice for future graduates?
Persevere! Don't take no for an answer. Always present yourself professionally - even if you think no one is watching. Work hard. Make yourself indispensable. Get to work on time- (on time is 10 minutes before you should begin work, not exactly when you should start). Don't be late! There are very few acceptable excuses for being late. Enjoy your job. If you don't enjoy it, find another one.

Kathy Hart

I am a proud 1979 graduate of Slippery Rock State College. I have a Bachelor of Science in Education/Elementary Education/Special Education. It is funny that these questions come now as I approach retirement.

I have been a Special Education teacher in the East Windsor Regional School District for the past 35 years. It is something I can hardly believe. The most rewarding part of my job is the love I have for my students. Years later when I see them they remember me with fondness. Sometimes I remember them also and hopefully with the same fondness. 

I have loved each and everyday here and am saddened to leave. I believe that I was taught at one of the best Special Education programs in the nation. In my years here I have mentored many Special Educators.

I have been nominated for teacher of the year numerous times but have never won the title. I spent three summers studying at the James Madison Seminar held at Princeton University. It was a great honor!!!

I was recently named All-Pro Educator of the week by the New Jersey Education Association. I attended a tailgate and an Eagles home game. (Don't worry I am still a Steeler fan!!!)

While at Hightstown I have coached both track and cheerleading and am an advisor to The Red Cross Club. This is a service organization with 300+ members. My duties include dress down days for charities, March of Dimes and NJ Special Olympics!

I would tell recent graduates that to teach you must be passionate each and everyday and of course lead by example.