Brittany Venetti



Being that it is the beginning of a new school year, it is important to set a positive tone and have a safe classroom environment. The motto for my classroom this year is "It's Cool to Be Kind" and "Be Kind, Always." My students had the opportunity to sign the Kindness contract, which you can see in the center of my bulletin board. We then completed an activity where each student wrote something nice about themselves, something kind about a friend, and then I wrote a nice message about them. These "Kind Note" posters are also featured on the bulletin board.



Where are you teaching? What subjects and grades?

I am in my 2nd year of teaching at Rochester Elementary in Rochester, Pennsylvania. Last year I was the 3rd and 4th grade Learning Support teacher. This year I am the 4th and 5th grade Learning Support teacher, so I have been blessed with getting to teach the same students for another school year! I teach Reading, Language Arts, Mathematics, and Writing.

What have you done particularly well in your position?

I believe I have done a nice job creating positive relationships with my students and their families.

What advice would you give to current students who are enrolled in the teacher preparation program?

My advice would be to fully invest in the teacher preparation program. Go to class, do the work, and you will see successful results in your future. Also, take full advantage of your field placements and student teaching by making positive relationships with your cooperating teachers. Make sure you ask questions and do not be afraid to make mistakes because that is how you learn!

What SRU experience or faculty positively influenced you, and in what way?

I am thankful for all of the hands-on experiences that the teacher preparation program at SRU provided me with. They really get you in the classroom from the start! The SRU experiences that positively influenced me the most were my field and student teaching placements. Shout out to Mrs. Shannon Abbott , Mrs. Patti Shaffer, Mrs. Michelle Sappas, and Mrs. Bethany Barrett! These ladies have been wonderful influences in my life inside the classroom as well as outside of it. I am grateful for them being my mentors and sharing their passion for teaching while I was a student at Slippery Rock University.

What makes a great teacher?

Heart is what makes a great teacher. The sad reality is that school will be the only form of stability in some of your students' lives! These children will look up to you in ways that you cannot even imagine. You could be the reason they wake up in the morning and the reason they smile during the school day. Be kind, loving, and warm. Offer your students grace and patience because they will absolutely test it, but they deserve your best every day. As the poster on my classroom door reads, "Keep Shining. The world needs your light!"

Brian Crossley

Where are you teaching? What subjects and grades?

Currently, I am teaching at the Trinity Area School District at Trinity North Elementary School in Washington, PA. I am a Kindergarten through 5th grade emotional support teacher.

What have you done particularly well in your position?

I have created positive relationships with my students and parents. As a teacher, it is very important to maintain trust and open communication with parents and students. I always make sure that I listen to the needs of every single one of my students and meet them the best I can. Also, I communicate with parents to gain insight on their children's' interests, what works for them as parents, and how I can implement those insights into the classroom.

What advice would you give to current students who are enrolled in the teacher preparation program?

The advice I would give to current students who are enrolled in the teacher preparation program is to take every opportunity given to you in observations, field experiences, and student teaching. Throughout your experiences, ask questions to your field supervisor and mentor teacher because it helps you grow as a teacher candidate. By doing this, you will develop many professional relationships and networking opportunities. Also, I would tell each student in the teacher preparation program to take one day at a time, and it is okay to make mistakes. You will be faced with many obstacles. When you are, remember tomorrow is another day to make improvements. Just like your students, you are learning. Be the educator you want to and know you can be through the preparation from Slippery Rock.

What SRU experience or faculty positively influenced you, and in what way?

If it wasn't for Slippery Rock's teacher preparation program, I would not be the teacher I am in or in the current position I am in today. Slippery Rock's teacher preparation program gives you every opportunity to prepare you for the educational field. One faculty member that has positively influenced me was Dr. Erickson and his Special Education Assessment class. He gave us every opportunity in his class to learn the IEP process through the development and implementation of it. With special education being my passion, Dr. Erickson allowed us to use IEP Writer to learn how to write this document. This was such a valuable experience because I have sat in many interviews, with school districts, that have asked if I am familiar with IEP Writer. By becoming familiar with this program, in college, it allowed me to better myself. Also, Dr. Erickson allowed students to participate in an ALICE training at one of the school districts he worked for. Again, the ALICE training gave me a real world experience and opportunity in the field of education.

What makes a great teacher?

What makes a great teacher is passion, willingness to take risks, and patience. Every student I have come across has influenced me. I learned about success and how to overcome hardships through my students. My students always make me want to come back to teach, even if we had a bad day before or a great one the day before that. My students rely on me every single day, and knowing that grows my passion for teaching. It is crucial to understand that each day will not be perfect, but that the most important thing is how you adapt and overcome challenges. Finally, great teachers need to have patience. Being patient, understanding, and open with your students will create positive relationships and a safe classroom environment.

Melanie Hughes

 

 

Where are you teaching? What subjects and grades?
I am in my 7th year of teaching at Stafford County Public Schools. Previously, I was the Early Childhood Special Education Resource Teacher at Head Start where I worked with 4 year-olds. This upcoming 2017-18 school year, I will be teaching in a Self-Contained Autism Preschool Classroom. I will be working with 3 and 4 year-olds!

What have you done particularly well in your position?
I have had to learn to balance several different roles over the past few years. I have had to be incredibly organized as I have worked with students with IEPs, 504 plans, and behavior intervention plans. I have helped mentor several new teachers as our special education program in preschool has expanded tremendously over the years. I have worked hard to manage my time and help teachers and students have a successful school year.

What advice would you give to current students who are enrolled in the teacher preparation program?
Take it seriously. Spend as much time in the classroom as you can and ask teachers important questions. Enjoy every minute of it!

What SRU experience or faculty positively influenced you, and in what way?
Slippery Rock has been a wonderful experience for me! I graduated in December 2011 with my Bachelor's Degree in early childhood, elementary and special education, and then a Master's Degree in special education with an emphasis of Autism in December 2014. I am currently in the process of applying for the doctoral program in special education! The faculty is amazing and I still keep in contact with many of my past professors. I absolutely love everything about my education and experience at Slippery Rock University and if I could do it all over again, I would!

What makes a great teacher?
A great teacher individualizes, understands, and cares. They are willing to make accommodations and modifications for their students. They spend time getting to know their students and not just teaching the lesson.

Ryan Sutton

 

What is your educational background and what positions have you held?

I graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a B.S. in History and Japanese, and got my M.Ed. in Social Studies from SRU. During my time at SRU, I was given the opportunity to work with the History department as a Graduate Assistant with the Old Stone House Center for Public Humanities. After graduating, I worked for one year at Rocky Mount Prep., a charter school in North Carolina, where I taught 8th grade Social Studies. I currently work at Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh, where I teach grades 7-12 social studies.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?

When students think about what they've learned in my class outside of school. For example, one day a student told me that my class changed the way he views and plays Assassin's Creed (a video game based on historical events). Small instances like that really make my day.

What advice would you give to current students who are enrolled in the teacher preparation program, and to SRU students generally?

To students in the teacher preparation program: when you are preparing for student teaching, reach out to your mentor teacher as soon as possible prior to the first day of class. I had an amazing experience student teaching, thanks to my great mentor who trusted me to almost completely take over the classroom from day one. This would not have happened if I didn't reach out to her ahead of time.

 

To students at SRU in general: Always be open and looking for opportunities to stand out and work with professors outside of class. My time as Graduate Assistant at The Old Stone House was one of the most transformative things I did at SRU, and I found it entirely by chance.

 

Name an SRU experience or faculty that had a positive influence on you and explain why. 

Dr. Hilton and Dr. Hicks have a lot to do with how I teach today. My lesson planning process, as well as the way I reflect on my successes and failures as a teacher are taken directly from their classes.

 

What makes a great teacher?

A great teacher is flexible, quick to improvise, and constantly evaluating their own performance. They have thick skin and a strong enough ego to withstand failure from both themselves and their students. They are charismatic, enjoy laughing at themselves, and work well as a team. Most importantly, a great teacher is someone who loves their subject so much that they cannot keep it to themselves.

Ian Schwan

Where are you teaching? What subjects and grades?

I teach at Chittenango School District in Chittenango, NY (12 miles east of Syracuse, NY). I teach Physical Education for grades 5 and 9-12. Additionally, I teach Adapted Physical Education at my High School.

What advice would you give to current students who are enrolled in the teacher preparation program?

As teachers, our goal is to provide as many opportunities as possible for kids to be successful. Make sure you believe in what you are pursuing!

What is one positive experience that you have had with a student?

I have a student who is interested in pursuing the military after high school. He has now become a regular in the weight room with me and has begun to devote his extra time to preparing for it academically as well. He has been able to put on 18 pounds in the past 3 months, and has began to actively meet with recruiters for different military branches.

What makes a great teacher?

A great teacher is someone who believes in making a difference -- someone who pushes kids even when they are already succeeding, and challenges students to be better not just in school-related activities, but in life.