What is your educational background from SRU and what positions have you held?
I graduated from SRU in 2006 with a Bachelor's degree in Health and Physical Education and a certification in Middle School Mathematics. I spent the first six years of my career teaching in Prince George’s County Maryland as an Adapted Physical educator and an Adapted Aquatics teacher. I then taught for three years as an APE teacher in Harford County, Maryland and am now in my third year in Howard County, Maryland. I have taught both in the inclusive setting, separate setting, and provided both direct and indirect services to students.
I have also held numerous volunteer board positions including Vice President and President of recreation for MAHPERD (Maryland Association of health and physical education, recreation and dance). As well as the Adapted Physical Education chair and a member at large of this organization.
I have been both the presidential advisor as well as the Vice President of MAPEC (the Maryland Adapted Physical Education Consortium).
What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
The most rewarding aspect of my job is seeing the success of each of my students. I love being able to show everyone the true capabilities of my students. There are no limitations in my gymnasium and I believe I prove that every day.
What advice would you give to current students who are enrolled in the teacher preparation program, and to SRU students generally?
Don’t give up. I tried a couple of times and the best thing that happened to me was having people tell me "no" and not let me stop. Education is hard. Teaching is exhausting. Burnout is real. Focus on the positives. Focus on the ‘happy’ in your classroom. That’s what matters and if you focus on that, you will make it through one day at a time. And you will be thankful you did!
Name an SRU experience or faculty that had a positive influence on you and explain why.
When I was student teaching, I had a very difficult time. I was ready to quit. I even went so far as asking my department to give me my degree without my license to teach if I didn’t finish out student teaching. The entire physical education department got behind me and wouldn’t give up on me. They created an alternate plan for me to take the time I needed but still finish my student teaching and graduate. I learned that all students need this same opportunity. To have people believe in them and understand that to reach the desired outcome, it may require a slightly alternate path. This is a belief I hold onto every day in my class when I work with my students. My students are exceptional and can achieve anything, they just need us to believe in them and help them reach their goal, no matter what it takes to get there. Slippery Rock helped me learn this. I owe so much to SRU and the amazing staff there. They got me through and without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
What makes a great teacher?
Resilience. Being a teacher is hard work. Amazing work, but hard. It takes grit, flexibility, stamina, and faith. It takes patience, perseverance, and a positive attitude. Great teachers motivate, engage, inspire, and create. Great teachers are heroes.
Where are you teaching? What subjects and grades?
I graduated in May of 2017, completing the Early Childhood (PK-4) and Special Education (PK-8) dual major. I am certified to teach in the state of Pennsylvania! Initially, I accepted a job as a preschool instructor for Beaver County Head Start. A few weeks in, I got an email from a school district about a few paraprofessional openings and decided to apply. I was offered a job, and although I loved the preschool and was unsure where I would be placed within the district, I took a leap of faith. I am currently an Educational Paraprofessional in the Quaker Valley School District. I work in the high school life skills classroom with students in grades 9-12.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your job? What positive experiences have you had?
The most rewarding part of my job is getting to spend every day with twelve of the most incredible kids I have ever met. Being able to develop relationships with these particularly unique students is something that is so special to me. Every single day at school, the students remind me that to be different is to be beautiful. Students with special needs teach us far more than we could ever teach them. In the classroom, we laugh constantly, embrace uniqueness, forgive quickly, support one another, serve our community, choose kindness, work hard, share thoughts, and do not let anybody go unnoticed. I am so lucky that I work with a group of individuals who live their lives with grace and purpose.
What advice would you give to current students who are enrolled in the teacher preparation program, and to SRU students in general?
To students in general: it is okay to not feel like your major defines you. There is so much pressure on us to LOVE what we are studying. As an education major, I was surrounded by incredible women and men who would eat, sleep, and breathe teaching. I used to envy those people, and thought that there was something wrong with me because I never felt that way. In fact, for a few years I even considered changing my major. In every field experience, I felt like it was “work.” I was happy, but not ecstatic like my peers. I loved the kids, mentors, and host teachers, but the teaching part was “just okay” for me.
That “just okay” feeling made me question if I was in the right profession, until I decided that my major did not have to define me. I was putting way too much pressure on myself to be head over heels for teaching. I had to learn to trust my gut. You are in your major for a reason. There is SOMETHING drawing you to that major. It took me graduating, accepting a preschool job, and then working in high school special education to ultimately discover what I enjoy! Even if you are not initially in love with your profession, it does not mean that you can’t be great at what you do. Now, I AM in love with what I do, and I could not imagine my life any differently.
Name an SRU experience or faculty that had a positive influence on you and explain why.
One of my absolute favorite people is Dr. Snyder. There are not enough great things I can say about Robert Snyder to show how truly wonderful he is. First of all, his class is entertaining, fun, and informative. He is a perfect example of a teacher who is truly passionate about his material and about education in general. Second, he CARES. There is nothing that Dr. Snyder isn’t willing to talk about. He puts time and effort into us as students, educators, and human beings. Third, Dr. Snyder is a FANTASTIC leader. I was lucky enough to travel with a group of students to Mexico for a month to finish student teaching. The group was lead by Dr. Snyder. While we were there, no problem was too big or small for him. He went out of his way to make sure that we were all safe, healthy, and enjoying our trip. Even after the trip, he has mentored me on several big life events since I have graduated. Dr. Snyder has truly made an everlasting impact on my life.
What makes a great teacher?
What makes a good teacher is a humble heart, a sense of humor, and a grateful attitude. First of all, having a humble heart is a teacher’s biggest strength. That is a teacher who is able to accept feedback, is willing to learn and reflect, is able to admit faults, and is always striving to be the best possible educator. Even after we graduate, we are never too old or too experienced to listen to advice from our mentors. Furthermore, a teacher needs to have a sense of humor. We make mistakes, forget our lunches at home, teach students who are having "off" days, and the copier breaks…again. We have to be able to “roll with it” and laugh at ourselves. Keeping a positive attitude and a good sense of humor helps educators stay lighthearted and maintain a positive teaching environment. Last, a great teacher has a grateful attitude. We will never be rich. We work long hours. We may never be able to dye our hair without a student telling us that they “liked it better before,” but we are grateful. Positivity is contagious, so we must practice what we preach in the classroom. Teachers must model and adopt the same attitudes that they want their students to have. When a teacher embraces a grateful attitude, students learn to become more grateful too.
What is your educational background and what positions have you held?
I received my Bachelor's degree in education from Slippery Rock University. I am certified in general education Pre-K to fourth grade and special education Pre-K to eighth grade. I started off my career with a position as a paraprofessional in an Autistic Support classroom for one year. I am now working for Sharpsville Area School District as their full time K-5 Autistic Support teacher!
What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
The most rewarding aspect of my job is watching my students grow and learn every day. Hearing a student’s first words, watching them learn how to greet others, hearing them call your name for the first time are just a few of the reasons why I love my job. Being a special education teacher allows me to appreciate the smallest things in life!
What advice would you give to current students who are enrolled in the teacher preparation program, and to SRU students generally?
I would tell students to experience as much as possible. Do things that you never thought you would! Get involved in clubs, trips, and activities on campus. You might happen to find something along the way that you really love. Most importantly, focus on your studies! You will appreciate it when you start your career! Savor your time at SRU! Four years goes by very quickly!
Name an SRU experience or faculty that had a positive influence on you and explain why.
The entire special education department had a positive influence on me during my time at SRU! I knew from the moment I heard Dr. Katsafanas talk about her experiences in special education, that I wanted to be a special education teacher. The staff at SRU inspired me and gave me the information that I needed to be a successful special education teacher.
What makes a great teacher?
Someone who is willing to go great lengths for children of all kinds, even if it is for the smallest positive outcome!
What is your educational background and what positions have you held?
I earned my Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood and Special Education with a minor in Aquatics from SRU in 2016. Following that, I earned my M.S. in Sport Management from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). During my schooling, I held many different positions within the Aquatic Field; I continued to be an American Red Cross certified lifeguard and swimming instructor at multiple different facilities, as well as being an Assistant Swimming Coach for the Slippery Rock Eels Swim Team for 3 years. When I was working to earn my M.S. from IUP, I had the distinct opportunity to be a full-time Graduate Assistant for the National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA). Now, I am currently the Aquatics and Safety Coordinator for Saint Louis University (SLU) in the Campus Recreation and Wellness Department where I oversee all of the aquatic staff, work with student trainers to continuously train all student staff working in our building.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
While there are many rewarding things in my job, the most rewarding aspect of my job is getting to work with students and helping them become successful not only in their employment here at SLU, but in their careers of choice as well. Being able to work with students who have high aspirations in life motivates me to do the same. Every student brings their own energy into their work and with that strong desire to be successful and be innovative, there is nothing that they can't triumph over.
What advice would you give to current students who are enrolled in the teacher preparation program, and to SRU students generally?
The best advice I could give to current SRU students is to give it everything you have and to try the new and exciting things that might be a little scary to tackle at first. Just because something is different doesn't mean it's bad, and if you never try you'll never truly know what you are capable of; everyone is so much more capable and stronger than what we give ourselves credit for. I feel that it's important to tackle those "what if's" in our lives and prove to ourselves and everyone else that we can do it and we can and will be successful even if we hit a bump on the road.
Name an SRU experience or faculty that had a positive influence on you and explain why.
Throughout my time at SRU, I have a multitude of wonderful eye-opening experiences and had the tremendous opportunity to work with many talented and inspiring professors at SRU. One that really stood out to me was my Aquatics instructor, Mr. Robert Ogoreuc. Between taking all of the classes for the completion of my Aquatics minor and all of the hours I spent working and teaching alongside him within the classroom, truly inspired me to go down the path that put me where I am today. Mr. Ogoruec gave me opportunities to attend different conferences, work with different groups of people from school-age children to adults who were police officers or water rescuers. Being able to explore different avenues withing the world of Aquatics led me where I am now at SLU. Spending countless hours working with Mr. Ogoreuc opened my eyes to truly understand and find my own career path.
What makes a great teacher?
I believe that there is no one singular aspect or element that makes a great teacher. Everyone brings their own strengths into their teaching, but what is consistent among many teachers is the care that they have for others and that we as teachers still have that passion to continue learning ourselves. You are never too old, too young, too new, too experienced, or too anything to learn new things. I believe that we can all relate to ever-insightful Dr. Seuss when he wrote, "The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you will go." in his book I Can Read With My Eyes Shut! And if you ask any teacher about their students you will see the passion that shines bright with excitement for their growth and development - regardless of what subject they are teaching or the age of their students.
