What is your educational background and what positions have you held?
I earned my bachelor’s degree from SRU in 2014 in secondary English education and writing and my master’s from SRU in 2016 in special education 7-12. After graduating from SRU the first time, I was a substitute teacher for various Butler, Beaver, and Lawrence county school districts. It was during this time that I began to explore special education, as I was teaching many emotional, autistic, and learning support classes. The spring of 2015 is when I decided to pursue a master’s degree in special education, and it took me about a year to complete the online program. As I was earning my graduate degree, I was hired as a special education paraprofessional for the Ellwood City Area School District, working with emotional, learning, and autistic support students in grades K-2 and 7-12. I worked as an instructional aide there for a year when my first teaching opportunity presented itself. An educator friend of mine informed me that a school called George Junior Republic was hiring. This facility is a part of the Grove City Area School District and it educates delinquent youth from all around the country. I am currently a special education teacher in one of the various special needs units on GJR’s campus, teaching English, reading, math, science, health, and history in an emotional support classroom of eleven boys.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
The demographic of students that I teach is very diverse. The boys I see range from twelve to eighteen years old, many coming from impoverished, underprivileged families and communities. The majority of my students have some degree of emotional disturbance or trauma, and many suffer from a range of behavioral and mental disorders such as ADHD, ADD, bipolar disorder, conduct disorder, schizophrenia, autism, and specific learning disabilities. The struggles that my students have faced in their short lifetimes is sometimes unimaginable and very eye-opening for someone like me who derives from a small-town, middle-class family. I learn just as much from my students as they do from me, and I am honored to have the opportunity to make a difference in their lives in more ways than just educationally. The most rewarding aspect of my job is definitely the relationships I build with my students and seeing something I taught them make a positive impact in their lives.
What advice would you give to current students who are enrolled in the teacher preparation program, and to SRU students generally?
Never stop exploring your options! I have a sister who currently attends SRU and I tell her the same thing. SRU has such a wide variety of degrees and certifications that you can earn, and highly knowledgeable and amazing faculty members that are willing to help you find what’s right for you. Talk to as many educators as you can and really listen to their advice. The things I’ve learned from professors, former teachers, and coworkers is astounding and has truly aided me in my pursuit of becoming the best teacher I can be. Get involved on campus in whatever clubs or programs interest you. And, travel! I went on many trips during my time at SRU with the Honors Program, and looking back, I wish I would have been involved in even more than I was. College is fleeting--in no time, you’ll be graduated with a full-time career, fondly reminiscing on your SRU days. Take advantage of everything this university has to offer, and whatever you do, don’t let fear or uncertainty hold you back from discovering something that could ultimately change your life.
Name an SRU experience or faculty that had a positive influence on you and explain why.
In 2014, I traveled to the The Pennsylvania Council of Teachers of English and Language Arts (PCTELA) conference with my fellow English and education majors and Dr. Timothy Oldakowski. This conference truly reminded me why I got into teaching to begin with. There were panels of professors and teachers sharing their research and experience, there were booths set up with free or discounted resources for educators, there were young adult (YA) authors there to discuss their careers and how they’ve affected and have been affected by the young people in our lives. I took a plethora of knowledge away from this conference; It is an invaluable experience and a great memory that I still cherish.
What makes a great teacher?
A great teacher is someone who not only understands the art of teaching or the foundations of education, but also someone who cares passionately about their profession and the young people they work with every day. Someone who is willing to go above and beyond their job description, and connect with their students in order to create a strong, positive teacher-student rapport. A great teacher should have empathy and an understanding for their students, and communicate with them in a way that will build them up as a learner and as a person. A great teacher should be able to relay their knowledge to students in a way that will stay with them long after they leave the classroom.
What is your educational background from SRU and what positions have you held?
I graduated from Slippery Rock in the spring of 2016 with a dual degree in Early Childhood Education and Special Education. After graduation, I was a substitute teacher for the Butler School District until the end of their school year. In August 2016, I accepted a position as a Kindergarten teacher at Gary D. Wright Elementary School in Hampshire, Illinois, about 40 miles west of the city of Chicago. This is my second year teaching Kindergarten.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
As a Kindergarten teacher, I love getting to experience so many “firsts” with my students. Some have never been in school before, been on a field trip, etc. I find so much value when I am working with a student and they finally have that “ah-ha!” moment upon completing a task, or finally understanding a topic that they have been struggling with. I also put a great value into my classroom environment and rapport with my students. With this being said, I love being able to sit back, watch, and listen to what my students are telling each other and how they build each other up on a daily basis.
What advice would you give to current students who are enrolled in the teacher preparation program, and to SRU students generally?
My biggest piece of advice to current students enrolled in the teacher preparation program would be to not be afraid to talk with your professors. They are there to help you. At Slippery Rock, you are more than just a name on a roster. Your professors WANT you to do your best and want to see you succeed. Don’t be afraid to reach out to them, because there really is no such thing as a silly question! Some of my best memories were made with the awesome faculty at Slippery Rock!
Also, know that all of the work that you are putting in now WILL come in handy! The amount of times I have been able to say “Oh, in one of my classes, we did…” or “While I was student teaching, I did…” is unbelievable! The coursework truly helped shape who I am as a teacher.
Name an SRU experience or faculty that had a positive influence on you and explain why.
As cliché as it may sound, my four years at Slippery Rock were the best four years of my life and the faculty is a main reason for that. I feel I heavily benefitted from being a part of two different departments within the College of Education. While the faculty members of both the Early Childhood department, as well as the Special Education department are phenomenal, there are two professors in particular that will always stand out to me.
During my sophomore year, I took a class with Dr. Amodei and actually ended up asking her to be my advisor. She guided me through my next few years, and for that I am grateful. Dr. A is a professor that I am lucky enough to still be connected to and is someone who I know, no matter what, I am able to go to with questions and for guidance.
Within the Special Education department, Mrs. Badgett is the professor that sticks out the most to me. Even when I was no longer enrolled in her class, she was always reaching out to see how I was doing and what I was up to, both in and out of my fieldwork and student teaching. I was fortunate to go back and visit SRU after graduation and when I sat down with her, she wanted to know everything about my teacher career. It is professors like Mrs. Badgett and Dr. Amodei that truly shaped who I am as a teacher.
What makes a great teacher?
When it comes to a great teacher, everyone tends to focus on patience and a love for their students. While these are very important things, I would also add flexibility and constant learning. As a teacher, you may come across a lesson or a class where things just aren’t working the way you planned. You need to be able to realize this and be willing to change if necessary. Not all students learn the same way, so you can’t always teach things the same way. Being flexible and changing things based on your students means you are always learning. Just because you have graduated doesn’t mean you are done learning. A great teacher listens to those around them and is a lifelong learner.
Where are you teaching? What subjects and grades?
I graduated from Slippery Rock University in May of 2017 as a dual major in Early Childhood (PreK-4) and Special Education (PreK-8). In August of 2017, I accepted a full-time third grade teaching position at Bobtown Elementary School in Greene County, Pennsylvania. I have twenty students in my classroom, where I teach all subjects each day!
What is the most rewarding aspect of your job? What positive experiences have you had?
The absolute most rewarding aspect of my job is being reminded each day, that I have picked the profession that just continuously and graciously gives back. I have yet to wake up having that “I have to go to work” feeling, because each day has been more than rewarding to me. Every smile, word, number, laugh, and tear that we have shared together has not only allowed my students to grow, but has allowed me to grow with them.
One of the most positive experiences I have had with my students is definitely seeing how far they have come since the beginning of the year. I have been with my students every single day since August, and I feel that I really know their strengths and weaknesses. It is so special to me to see how far that they have come! I have loved seeing them grow academically, socially, and emotionally!
What advice would you give to current students who are enrolled in the teacher preparation program, and to SRU students in general?
You absolutely picked the best, most rewarding profession out there. I feel that when I was in the program, I heard a lot of negativity from others, particularly people who were not even teachers. Please know, that only you know what makes your heart happy! If you wake up each day knowing you couldn’t imagine a life without impacting another person, again, you picked the right profession. Although it is my first year teaching, I know that my four years of college were SO worth it! I encourage all current SRU students to get involved in as much as you can. Take a chance on any opportunity that is thrown your way. SRU offers so many clubs, organizations, and other activities that allow you to get as much experience in all areas of your particular field of degree!
Name an SRU experience or faculty that had a positive influence on you and explain why.
The education department at SRU has the absolute most genuine faculty, which makes it close to impossible for me to choose one positive influence. All of my professors have influenced me in different ways, which I believe has helped mold me into both the person and teacher I am today. From the experienced stories that my professors would tell, to the advice they would want you to carry with you forever, it has all been such a positive influence on me.
What makes a great teacher?
A teacher is someone who teaches, a great teacher is someone, who I believe, teaches from his or her heart. A great teacher has passion, patience, and perseverance. A great teacher gives their students their very best every single day. They know their students from the inside out and are able to help their student grow in all areas of their lives. Allowing students to see the potential that they have, and their belonging in the world is just adding fuel to their spark. A great teacher ignites the fire that fuels a student’s thirst for knowledge, curiosity, and wisdom!
