Monday, March 30, 2020
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Dr. Scott Hebert
1. What is your educational background and what positions have you held?
- Doctorate, Educational Leadership
- Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Florida
- Education Specialist, School Counseling
- Argosy University, Sarasota, Florida
- Master of Science, Educational Leadership
- Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Bachelor of Science, Elementary Education at Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania
- 1998 Milken National Educator Award
- 1998 Florida Educators Hall of Fame Inductee
- 1999 Florida Teacher of the Year/Christa McAuliffe Ambassador for Education
- Chief Academic Officer, Executive Director of Educational Services, Director of Area Schools and Elementary Education, Principal, Assistant Principal, Guidance Counselor, Technology Specialist, Elementary Grades Teacher PK-5
2. What has been your most rewarding experience as a teacher/professor? If you cannot narrow it down to one, describe one rewarding experience.
My most memorable experience was when I was Florida Teacher of the Year. During that year I had the opportunity to visit schools and classrooms across the state. I distinctly remember traveling to Pensacola to attend an event at the district and spend time going to some of the local schools. I toured a school that had been graded as an F that year. I remember talking with teachers about the school and hearing the work they were doing to improve the performance. The teachers described to me in detail about how committed they were to improve the grade. They said they believed in the students and knew that with tenacity and perseverance they would be able to overcome the negative publicity their school received because of the rating. I also spent time talking to some of the students at the school. They all told me that they loved their teachers and had pride in their school. One boy told me that his mom wanted him to leave and go to another school. He begged his mom to stay and told me that you cannot run away from problems. He told her he would work hard and felt that everyone had to stay and do their best. Teachers make a difference and it is important for us to remember that all it takes is one teacher to light a fire of excitement that will last a lifetime.
3. What attracted you to Slippery Rock University, and in particular, the education department?
When I was in high school, an advisor from Slippery Rock University did a presentation to future students. I recall hearing about the elementary education department and how students were given opportunities to work with students from the beginning. I was excited about beginning a career in education and was particularly eager to begin working with students early on in my program. When I took a campus tour, I distinctly remember friendly faces and comments from students on campus. They were eager to talk about how great it was to attend SRU and they clearly showed pride in the school. On a secondary note, I was also involved in music in high school and very much wanted to be a part of the Marching Band at Slippery Rock University. During my campus tour I was able to meet the band director, Mr. Scarnati. He told me that he would welcome me into the band and asked me to come see him any time if I needed more information. Every person I met on campus was extremely helpful, kind, and positive about their experiences on campus. I knew from that moment that SRU was right for me.
4. What advice would you give to current students who are enrolled in the teacher preparation program?
Working as a teacher is a rewarding experience and one that cannot be replicated in any other profession. I believe it is most important for future teachers to understand that no matter what content they are teaching, the students are the center of learning in the classroom. Students today have challenges they must face - from having access to basic needs in the home to differing family structures. Teachers must be open and willing to accept all students and provide the highest quality of education to them. Understanding where students come from and being able to meet their individual needs is of utmost importance for future teachers. Remembering that not all students will come to school with the same experiences, we know it is necessary for the teacher to create magic in the classroom that will last far beyond their days in school. Dr. Doug Fisher states “Every student deserves a great teacher, not by chance, but by design.” I firmly believe that anyone in the field of education must hold true to this statement.
5. What makes a great teacher?
I have a passion for teaching and learning and I strive to light the fire in others to achieve excellence in education. I believe in evaluating current research and finding ways to incorporate those strategies into the classroom to help students be successful. Thomas Friedman, author of The World is Flat, writes that one of the foremost abilities that needs to be developed in the world today, is the ability to learn how to learn. As a learner, I am responsible to continue to learn new things myself and to find ways to inspire others. I believe that the teacher must light the fire within students so that learning will continue to shine into the future.
Tuesday, March 3, 2020
Maria Strnisha
1. What school district and grade/s do you currently teach?
I teach 3rd grade at Montclair Elementary which is a Prince William County Public School in Northern Virginia.
2. What do you love most about teaching?
As a first year teacher, I love building relationships with my students. I love learning more about them every day. From their favorite outside activities, to their future dreams, to what it’s like to take a walk in their shoes, I strive to learn something new about each one of them every day. I love their personalities at this age and being in a position to facilitate their growth is such an amazing thing.
3. Name one SRU experience, in general or specific to the field, that you will never forget and explain why.
It’s impossible to name every unforgettable experience! There are so many amazing ones. At SRU, I dual majored in both Elementary Education and Dance. Some of my most favorite experiences were any chance I had to combine both of my passions. For example, I took a teaching of dance class where we had field experience getting to teach classes in dance studios. It was incredible how my background and education for elementary teaching was able to shine through while teaching dance as well. I also loved my arts integration class where I got to create a lesson which incorporated movement with the curriculum standards. It was really cool to be able to have both of my favorite things come together so perfectly.
4. What advice would you give to current students who are enrolled in the teacher preparation program?
The best advice I could give to a current student is to soak in every single moment of the experiences you get. I know we hear it all too often that this time goes by too fast, but it’s definitely the truth! I would tell them to be the best they can be at every moment. There were times, especially while I was student teaching, that I felt as though I didn’t give my best effort because I was terrified about my time at SRU quickly expiring. Even more so, I was petrified at what was coming after it was over. With that said, the professors in the department are incredible and offered me endless encouragement and support. They are there for you! Don’t be afraid to talk to them. It’s okay to feel scared of the unknown, but there are so many great people to turn to at SRU. Even to this day, every day is a kind of like a brand new learning experience. It’s all about your approach and your attitude.
5. What makes a great teacher?
I believe that a great teacher is something that can be defined differently for everyone. To me, a great teacher is someone who recognizes the needs of the students on any given day and is okay with being flexible to accommodate them. While instruction is extremely important, I also am a firm believe that sometimes the one thing your students need most has nothing to do with what’s on your lesson plan. As teachers we wear many different hats. Sometimes we go from coach, to detective, to event planner, to mediator, to comedian, to entertainer, to cheerleader... All in the span of a few moments! It’s all about knowing when to change that hat and which hat to switch to. I also believe that a great teacher is a lifelong learner. We are constantly educating ourselves on various topics and learning from ourselves and even our students in a daily basis. A great teacher also provides and accepts support. With encouragement from my family, friends, my boyfriend Matt and his family, my mentors at SRU and Montclair, my students, and my own perseverance, the challenges of teaching can be overcome with strength in numbers.
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