Sara Gould

1. What school do you currently work for and what is your position?  What is your role?

I work at the University of Florida's nationally ranked Career Connections Center as a certified Career Coach. I work with college students every day, helping them through each stage of their career development journey via individual or group appointments and workshops/presentations. I also own a private career consulting business called Career Productions, LLC where I mostly work with executive level leaders.

2. What do you love most about working in student affairs?

While working in student affairs is not what most people think of as traditional teaching, we absolutely are educators. I love empowering college students to advocate for themselves whether it is through salary negotiation or speaking to their transferable skills. Helping instill confidence and watching growth occur in my students has to be my favorite part.

3. What advice would you give to current students who are enrolled in the SAHE program at SRU?

While you are probably exhausted from working full-time at your graduate practicum, internship, and also taking classes full-time in the evening while trying to write papers/finish assignments and eat dinner and get sleep and have somewhat of a social life... these are transformative years. I look back on my years in that program and am so grateful for everything I was taught, professionally and personally. It was invaluable and I am forever grateful for the lessons learned, mentors developed, and friendships made. Everything was worth it.

4.  Name one SRU experience, in general or specific to the field, that you will never forget and explain why.

Can I cop out and say all of it? I was one of the lucky ones who went to SRU for undergrad & grad school (took some time off in between) and those were some of the best years of my life. The Rock was the best place to be.

5. What makes a great teacher?

Someone who at the end of the day, doesn't forget their "why."

Brian Jones

1. What is your educational background and what positions have you held?
I received my undergraduate degree from SRU in the Spring of 2010 in health and physical education.  I got extremely lucky about three months after I graduated and got a job in the AIU working at the Shuman Juvenile detention center. I have been there ever since.  

2. What do you love most about teaching?
The number one thing I enjoy most about teaching is helping the students in any way possible.  Because I work at the Shuman juvenile detention center and the Allegheny county jail, my students are very different than most. They know I am there for them, so they look up to me. 

3. Name one SRU experience, in general or specific to the field, that you will never forget and explain why.
One experience I will never forget is during my freshman year at SRU, the snowfall of 2007 in January or February. It snowed for about 8 hours straight totaling 11 inches or so.  The student body got a notice email that campus would be shut down the next day.  Well when you tell a bunch of 18-19 year olds there is no school for anyone tomorrow, what did they think was going to happen?  Dozens of us went outside and had a huge snowball fight and went sled riding.  It was a time I will never forget. 

4. What initially peaked your interest in pursuing a degree in education?
I always loved sports and I enjoyed coaching. When I was in high school, our basketball team won a state championship. Although I was very young and didn’t get much playing time, I still received a lot of respect and younger kids looked up to me just for being on that team. Ever since then I always wanted to help kids get better at a skill.

5. What makes a great teacher?
I think many attributes make a great teacher. In my eyes, it comes down to three things. The three skills I think a great teacher should have are: listening skills, respect, and the will to never give up on a kid. I think there are many good teachers out there, but to be great, these skills are required. 

Erin Funera

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

I started attending SRU in the fall of 2011. I majored in Special Education and Early Childhood Education and graduated in May 2015. While completing my undergraduate degree I worked as a Habilitative Aide for the ARC of Mercer County where I helped individuals with Cognitive Disabilities gain skills to live independently. I was a member of Alpha Xi Delta, whose philanthropy is Autism Speaks. I had the honor of holding the position of Philanthropy Chair for one year. I assisted in organizing campus events and fundraisers to support Autism Speaks. In August of 2015, I began working as a Graduate Assistant in the Undergraduate Admissions Office and substitute teaching at local schools two days per week. I then received my Masters Degree in with an Autism Emphasis in January 2017. I held a short term position as a Learning Support Teacher where I worked with students in 6th-8th grade. My first full-time position was working at a Therapeutic Day school as an Emotional Support Teacher. I then followed a long time dream of moving to Colorado where I was hired as a K-3 Mild/Moderate Needs Teacher. For three years, I worked with students who have Specific Learning Disabilities, Autism, Other Health Impairments and Emotional Disabilities. I have recently accepted a position at Children’s Hospital Colorado where I will be working as a Learning Specialist conducting learning evaluations for children with learning disabilities and providing therapy. 

2. What initially peaked your interest in pursuing a degree in education?

As a child I never knew what I wanted to do when I grew up. When I was a sophomore in high school my majorette advisor, who was also a Special Education Teacher at my school asked if I wanted to volunteer during my study hall in the Multiple Disabilities Classroom. After the first week I knew exactly what I wanted do and continued to volunteer for the next three years until graduation. 

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

When I think back at my time at SRU there are three facility members that come to my mind. First, is Dr. Merhaut. He was a wonderful advisor and FIRST Seminar teacher. He was always so helpful with scheduling. I also loved taking Dr. Monfore classes. She always had engaging stories to share about whatever we were learning to bring the information to life. Finally, Dr. Amodei who was my supervisor for field work and student teaching. She was always so encouraging and positive.  

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

My advice would be to take advantage of any opportunity you can and do not be afraid to try something new. You never know what you will end up loving.

5. What makes a great teacher?

I feel a great teacher builds relationships with their families and students and makes sure all students feel successful. A great special education teacher is able to advocate for their students needs while maintaining positive relationships with all staff members and families. 

Dena Kniess

1. What school district and grade/s do you currently teach?
I am an Assistant Professor in Counselor Education and College Student Affairs at the University of West Georgia. I am also the Program Coordinator for the M.Ed. in College Student Affairs.  

2. Name one SRU experience, in general or specific to the field, that you will never forget and explain why.

One experience that I have not forgotten is attending my first American College Personnel Association - International Conference (ACPA) in 2001 in Boston, MA. It was my first introduction to professional conferences and I had the chance to attend conference sessions, and meet other colleagues. It was also a favorite time because I remember traveling with cohort members Brandi Williams, Traci Miller Watson, and Brenda Fabian.

3. What initially peaked your interest in pursuing a degree in education?

While I was at SRU, I was an Orientation Leader, served on the Student Activities Board, and was a member of Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity. I wanted to help students, like me, who were the first in their immediate family to go to college navigate the college environment. I believe education, both curricular and co-curricular experiences, are transformative and that's how I became interested in it.

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

My main piece of advice would be to take advantage of the opportunities you have to engage in professional development in education and always keep current on new technologies used in education.

5. What makes a great teacher?

A great teacher is one who enjoys what they do, wants to inspire and coach students toward success. One of my mentors has this quote in his signature line and it has held true for me at least, "They don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." Exhibiting care and concern for students and their learning can go a long way.