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.