Emily Wujcik

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

I went to the wonderful Slippery Rock University and earned a B.S. in Education with a dual major in Early Childhood and Special Education with a minor in Aquatics. I went on to Indiana University to earn a M.S. with a major in Sports Management. I have been working at Saint Louis University since the Fall of 2017. I currently teach many different certification classes throughout the year such as CPR/AED/First Aid and Lifeguarding. Additionally, I teach a first-year Freshman introduction class each Fall semester. 

 

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

During my junior year when I was out at a middle school, I was teaching a math lesson and it was one of my first few days that I was there. One student seemed to be very skeptical of me. Often when they were doing independent work, he would sing a few different country songs quietly to himself. When I went over to see how he was doing and see if I could help, he dismissed me right away. Then once I finished the lyrics to one of the songs he was singing, he immediately looked up and smiled at me. He shared that he didn't think I would know the song, but that since I did know it I was "cool". From then on, he showed me the same respect I gave him and he turned out to be one of the most involved students during our class! 

 

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

Mr. Ogoreuc will always be one of my favorite faculty members. We met at the majors and minors fair, and he helped me understand more about the Aquatics minor that I ended up adding. It was one of the best decisions that I made while at SRU. Mr. Ogoreuc, or Coach, as I usually call him, was instrumental in getting me into the world of Aquatics. He introduced me to many people within the field and through his guidance I was able to become a GA for the NDPA (National Drowning Prevention Alliance) while earning my Master's degree. Coach showed me how important it is to have qualified and excited people in this field to teach people how to be safer in and around the water. 

 

4. What initially piqued your interest in pursuing a degree in education? 

Ever since I was young, I always knew I wanted to help people learn; and like many, I played "teacher" with my friends and family where I would have to teach them something. Moving through high school though, I found that I really liked working with students and knew I wanted to pursue a degree in education, and I knew that Slippery Rock University has fantastic educational programs. 

 

5. What is the most rewarding aspect of your job? 

Working with college students, I am able to watch and help students grow, learn, and become who they were meant to be. I get to support them in their academics, in their on-campus work, and I have seen many students grow to be a fantastic Physical Therapist, a Pilot, an Occupational Therapist, and more. I feel honored to work with these students and be a part of their learning process. 

 

6. What makes a great teacher? 

Many things make a great teacher, but for me, the top among them I believe is compassion. We all need to have compassion for each other and ourselves. I believe that showing empathy and understanding for one another leads to a stronger relationship with your students and grows trust with each other as well. It is also important to know that there will be days where you may need to change course and to give yourself the grace to do something totally different than what you had in your original lesson plan. This year has been tough on many students, so I scrapped what I had planned one day and we took time to do some self-care activities instead of class - that's just what we all needed (myself included!).

Adam Katchmarchi

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

I completed my undergraduate degree in Health & Physical Education (B.S.Ed.) with a minor in Aquatics from Slippery Rock University (2012). My graduate work includes a Master of Science in Sport Management (M.S.) from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (2013) and a Doctor of Philosophy in Coaching & Teaching Studies (Ph.D.) with a cognate specialization in Sport Management from West Virginia University (2017). I am currently an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology, Health, and Sport Sciences at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. I teach in our Sport Administration undergraduate, Sport Management graduate program, and support our Health and Physical Education and Exercise Science programs. I'm also the executive director of the National Drowning Prevention Alliance, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization focused on water safety and drowning prevention in the United States. I also serve as a steering committee member of the US National Water Safety Action Plan and as the research committee chair for the Aquatic Coalition.

 

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

One of the most valuable experiences I had at SRU isn't a rosy story. I'll never forget my first field experience in my Introduction to Teaching class with Dr. Betsy McKinley (now retired). I woke up late and missed the bus to the field experience. I knew the consequences. I still remember to this day that I lost 15% of my final grade. Dr. McKinley laid out her policies from day one of class. I emailed her immediately and owned up to my mistake. The next class she brought it up to everyone and commended me for owning up to my mistake. From that day forward, Dr. McKinley became one of my biggest supporters. She taught me very early on at SRU that being a teacher was a big responsibility and you had to take it seriously. At the end of my junior year, Dr. McKinley was chair of the department and presented me with a student service scholarship award. It was special to have her present that to me knowing that she played a massive role in shaping me as a young professional. 

 

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

There are several retired and current facility at SRU, particularly in the Physical & Health Education Department who positively impacted my life. None more than Mr. Robert Ogoreuc who still teaches at SRU. As a freshman at SRU, I expressed to Mr. Ogoreuc my desire to pursue a career in aquatics and teaching. He took me under his wing, mentored me, and gave me opportunities to gain valuable experiences while I was an undergraduate student at SRU. Mr. Ogoreuc constantly presents his students opportunities to grow as professionals, inside and outside of the classroom. I took advantage of every opportunity he presented me with, and it shaped my career more than anything else. If it wasn't for Mr. O, I wouldn't be where I am today. He remains a close mentor and friend to this day.

 

4. What initially piqued your interest in pursuing a degree in education?

I was originally going to pursue a career in journalism. I decided to become a lifeguard in high school and fell in love with the job. I then got certified as a CPR, First Aid, Lifeguarding, and Swimming Instructor through the American Red Cross while I was in high school. I decided I really wanted to make a career out of this. I then found out about the aquatic focus and Mr. Orgoeuc during my senior year in high school. SRU was the only school I applied to after I found the program and toured the campus. The quality of the SRU program in both aquatics and teacher education have served me extremely well throughout my career. 

 

5. What is the most rewarding aspect of your job? I really have my dream situation.

Through my role as the executive director of the National Drowning Prevention Alliance, my scholarship, and industry service, I stay highly engaged and positively impact my field. At the same time, through my role as a professor, I can take that real world experience and bring it into the classroom for my students. By far, the most rewarding part of the job is the students I work with. Seeing a student take real interest in their studies and having the opportunity to educate and mentor them is special. 

 

6. What makes a great teacher?

Empathy, relevancy, and impact. In today's world, having empathy can go a long way. The pandemic highlighted the challenges we all face, and those challenges often affect students in the classroom. While we can't always impact the circumstances that are affecting our students, we can impact our attitude and the way we treat students. In my opinion, it is also important for a teacher to stay relevant with the content they are teaching. Our world is constantly evolving, and to best connect with our students, we must be constantly evolving ourselves as educators. Lastly, I think it comes down to the impact we make in the classroom. You may not impact every student who sits in your class, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try every day to positively impact the students that we have the privilege and opportunity to educate.

Maddie Morella

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

I got my Bachelor's Degree from SRU. I’m a 1st year, 10th grade Health and PE Teacher and Freshman Volleyball Head Coach at Annandale High School (Fairfax County, VA).

 

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

In Dr. Brewer's class we learned a ton of fun, new skills to teach students by actually practicing them ourselves.  We learned how to longboard, do yoga, social dance, and spin. Dr. Brewer made the lessons fun to learn, and I had a great time doing them in class!

 

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

Randy Nichols has been the greatest influence on me becoming the teacher I am today. Having him as my professor made me realize how important my WHY for teaching is. Randy goes above and beyond for each and every one of his students. I was lucky enough to have him as my professor and to also work with his wife for student teaching. Both are great teachers, and even better people.

 

4. What initially piqued your interest in pursuing a degree in education?

I originally wanted to start teaching because of my father, Darin. He is also a teacher. Seeing him inspire so many young children growing up made me want to follow in his footsteps.

 

5. What do you love most about teaching?

I LOVE building connections with students. Every student has a different story, and I think that they are all important to be recognized.

 

6. What makes a great teacher?

Compassion, empathy, and patience are just a few characteristics that make someone a great teacher. It is also important to love what you do. In education, you need to have love for your profession, your students, your school, community, and staff!

Michelle and Andrew Cummings

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

Michelle-

2013- Bachelors of Secondary Social Studies education from Slippery Rock

2017-Masters of Education in Instructional Accommodations from Francis Marion University (Florence, SC) 

This is my 9th year teaching in Florence 1 Schools in Florence, SC. I spent 5 years at South Florence High School where I taught (over those years)  geography, world history, United States history, economics, and AP Macroeconomics. Currently, I teach at West Florence High School where I am currently teaching- Government and Economics, AP Macroeconomics and AP United States Government and Politics.

Andrew-

I had transferred to SRU after two years at the Community College of Allegheny County where I was a business major for some reason unknown to gods and man. I have a BA in History (2013) and an MEd in Secondary Ed (2014), both from SRU. My first job was in Mullins, South Carolina where for 3 years I taught US History to juniors. The last 5 years have been spent at West Florence High School in Florence, South Carolina where I have taught US History, 9th grade Human Geography, and a Law Education class which encompasses all grades.

 

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

The lesson in one of my methods classes with Dr. Hilton about what our “teaching why” is. I remember being a slight jerk with my answer, but the lesson of knowing the why and the why not has helped power me through the hard years especially the last two-ish school years. 

Aside from meeting my wife at SRU, can’t leave that out, I remember the pride I had in defending my master’s thesis. I was never what one would call a “star pupil” so accomplishing the completion of my Master’s degree while in the midst of a very difficult year personally for me was very special to me. My time at The Rock in general was very special to me.

 

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

Dr. Hicks or Dr. Hilton- for having faith I could be a teacher. Dr. Cowan- for pushing me farther in my history research & not just accepting answers as is, and for allowing me to research a project about the Dayton, Ohio flood when he should have said no. 

I could name several; Dr. Cowan, Dr. Levy, Dr. Tuten, but to narrow it down to one person that had the greatest impact on me is Dr. Lia Paradis without question. Dr. Paradis was my advisor as a history undergrad and I must have taken every class she offered at The Rock. She is a wonderful and engaging teacher, but more than that, she helped me through some tough personal moments. As my advisor, I felt like she saw a potential in me that I wasn’t achieving and some of the conversations we had helped me see it in myself. Most impactful however, was her compassion and understanding as my mother’s health deteriorated and eventually passed away that gave me strength to continue to push myself to achieve what I wanted to achieve. I honestly cannot thank her enough or say enough good things about her as a teacher, advisor, or human person in general. An absolute legend.

 

4. What initially piqued your interest in pursuing a degree in education?

I think I was always destined to be a teacher but the four years at SRU really solidified that teaching social studies was the best choice for me. I had great teachers in elementary, middle, and high school with many report card comments about becoming a teacher. Teaching hasn’t always been easy & there have been lots of google searches about what else to do with an education degree but I always keep coming back to teaching as the right fit for me. 

I honestly kind of fell into it accidentally. I was a bit directionless at community college and took one of those career aptitude tests. Of the top 5 results, 4 of them were teaching so I thought “I should probably look into that.” I haven’t really looked back since.

 

5. What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?

Getting to teach seniors is bittersweet. I get to watch them make huge decisions about life after high school, but I only get to see them in the building for one year. I also really enjoy working with my student government and youth in government students. Watching them become leaders inside and outside the school environment, especially developing lifelong leadership skills that will take them well past college, feels like a lasting impact. 

The best part is making connections with my students in a number of different ways. Some kids I’ve watched grow from insufferable freshmen to respectable humans over four years in various clubs and organizations. Sometimes it’s seeing a kid really struggle academically and finally get that light bulb and get it. For some, I have seen them start to figure out who they are and who they want to be as a person. Sometimes, it’s just a kid cracking a joke cause I’m having a bad day. Whatever the situation is, the kids and watching them rumble, bumble, and stumble their way through life will always be the most rewarding part of the job. Those kids, even the “challenging ones” make the job worth it.

 

6. What makes a great teacher?

Relationships matter. When I think about the teachers that stood out to me, they knew my name and basic facts about me. I enjoy getting to know my seniors in their final high school year- who they are, who they want to become, and their plans to get there. I also enjoy getting silly with them by asking daily attendance questions such as “is a hot dog a sandwich?” or “ favorite color/snack/ season” or even “which do you prefer, sweet or sour candy?” Sometimes it’s a debate (a hot dog is a taco in my opinion) and sometimes it’s getting to know them just a little bit better. The other big/small thing I do is give every student a birthday card with stickers when they have a birthday in my class. It seems small but sometimes it feels nice to be noticed & students will remind me if I accidentally miss a student’s birthday on the birthday board because they seem to enjoy sharing the joy too. 

Who knows. I surely have no earthly idea. What a great teacher is for one person may not be the same for someone else. All great teachers have the same one thing in common though; they care about and want what is best for their students as individuals. How that looks can be different for different teachers, but at the end of the day, the only question you need to ask yourself is did I try to do right by the kids? You may not be a great teacher every day and you will make mistakes and handle things poorly, but if when you leave the building, you can say, “I tried to put the needs of my students first,” then you’re doing great.

Melissa Everly-Kosek

1. What is your educational background and where have you worked previously?

I have a Bachelor's of Science from Slippery Rock University. I was an elementary and special education major and graduated in December of 1993. 

8/1995-4/1997 I was a School Age Care program Assistant working for the United States Air Force Europe Division in Volgeweh, Germany. Basically the Military's version of Boys and Girls club. 

8/1997-6/2000, I was a 6th-grade regular ed teacher at Horton Middle school, Chatham County schools, in Pittsboro, NC. 

8/2000-6/2006 I was a 6th-grade regular ed teacher at East Lee Middle school in Lee County schools in Sanford, NC. 

8/2006-6/2008 I was a special education teacher at West Cary middle school, Wake County Public schools in Cary, NC.  

7/2008-6/2016, I was a special education teacher at Lufkin Road year-round middle school in Wake County Public Schools in Apex, NC. 

Finally, from 8/2016 to the present, I have been a special education teacher at Athens Drive Magnet High school In Wake County Public Schools in Raleigh, NC. 

I am currently in my 24th year of teaching! 

 

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

When I completed my SPED practicum experience for my special education major. This was the student teaching on the SRU campus at the sheltered school prior to my student teaching/last semester at SRU. I learned so much about working with special education populations as well as some of the little secrets of teaching.

 

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

I will always be grateful to the SRU special ed dept professors. From Dr. Bob to Dr. Livingston, they all taught me unique things about teaching; whether is was classroom discipline, IDEA, or the various SPED identifications, that I still refer to today. 

 

4. What initially piqued your interest in pursuing a degree in education?

I am a second-generation teacher. My father was a public school music teacher. I wanted to follow in his footsteps as well as make a difference in young lives. 

 

5. What do you love most about teaching?

Helping my students. As a high school special education teacher, it is not just about academics. I also teach the life skills that students need to learn in order to become productive and responsible adults.  I enjoy helping and watching my students mature from young, insecure freshmen to confident seniors; who are ready to start the next chapter of their lives. 

 

6. What makes a great teacher?

Someone who is willing to listen and adapt to the needs of his or her students. A person can have all the book smarts in the world, but they have to be able to relate to their students and meet their various needs. Also, a teacher needs to be able to park his or her ego. Bottom line, it is not about that great lesson,  promotion, or accolade.  Teaching is about meeting the needs of the students. Don't ever lose sight of that.

Ashley Zawojski

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

I graduated from Slippery Rock University with my Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education in May 2021. I currently teach as a second grade teacher at Yeshiva Schools of Pittsburgh, a private school in the city.

 

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

One SRU experience I will never forget is my freshman move in day, and WOW weekend. I met some of my closest friends that weekend, ones I roomed with for the rest of my time at Slippery Rock. I also met many friends in my major who I had classes with up until student teaching and graduation!

 

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

An SRU faculty member that had a positive impact on me was Dr. Monique Alexander. Dr. Alexander was one of the most caring, compassionate, and engaging professors I had at my time in the college of education. She continued to keep in touch with me after my semester in her class, putting good words in for me at schools I applied to. She inspired me to be an inclusive and diverse educator. I am forever grateful for what she has done as a professor!

 

4. What initially piqued your interest in pursuing a degree in education?

I’ve always enjoyed working with children, whether it was babysitting or hanging out with my younger cousins. My senior year of high school, though, I got a job as a teaching assistant at a local childcare center. The kindergarten teacher was a Slippery Rock alumni, and allowed me to assist her in her lessons and teaching. She let me teach while she planned, or fill in for her when she was out for the day. That experience made me realize how much I enjoyed seeing children learn, and watching their faces light up when they finally grasped the content!

 

5. What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?

The most rewarding aspect of my job is knowing I get to mold the young minds in my classroom. The children in my classroom are the future, and I get to help lead them into their future. I prepare them not only academically with subjects like reading and math, but also socially by using partner and group work, and having them learn what it means to be a responsible person with class jobs and routines. There is no better feeling than seeing my students grow and learn everyday! 

 

6. What makes a great teacher?

A great teacher is a person who is passionate about teaching each and every student in their classroom. Someone who promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion in their room. Building those close and understanding relationships with your students will set the tone for the rest of the school year. It builds trust and respect, which will make the quality of learning that much better for the students, and yourself as a teacher.

Paula Joseph

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

I have a BS in Elementary Education with a minor in Early Childhood Education from SRU and a Masters Degree in School Librarianship from Longwood University.  I am currently a high school librarian in Spotsylvania County in Virginia.  I have taught in preschool, elementary and middle school classrooms.  This year will be my 31st year in education.

 

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

I made lifelong friendships at SRU and am forever thankful for them!  This past summer my friend group got together in PGH for a mini-reunion.  

 

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

Dr. Mary Allice Paul was a big influence on me.  She was my professor for my early childhood classes.  She always shared her real life teaching experiences and they left an impression on me.  She always took the time to get to know her students and had a wonderful sense of humor.

 

4. What initially piqued your interest in pursuing a degree in education?  

I wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember.  When I started school I came home and taught my younger sister everything I learned.  Playing school was my favorite thing to do as a child.  I couldn't wait to be in a classroom teaching!

 

5. What do you love most about teaching?

The students!  

 

6. What makes a great teacher?

I don't have fancy lessons or bulletin boards, but I am a great relationship builder.  My students know that I love and care about them.  I am very lucky in that I have taught at all three levels.  I teach some of the kids now who I taught in elementary school so we go way back!  It is very fun and rewarding seeing them grow up.

Kaya Weeks

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

I graduated from Slippery Rock in 2021. I am currently teaching 9th grade World History 1 and 11-12th grade psychology at Rappahannock High School and Richmond County, Virginia. 

 

2. 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 my student teaching experience. I had the best cooperating teacher and I’m very thankful for all they taught me. I do not think I would be where I am today if it wasn’t for my co-op and my academic advisor, Dr. Hogue. 

 

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

Dr. Mark Hogue. Dr. Hogue was constantly pushing me and encouraging me to be my best and was always there to offer guidance and words of wisdom when I needed it the most. He was one of the first people I met whenever I declared education as my major my sophomore year and his excitement and knowledge about the field of education inspired me from the beginning. 

 

4. What initially piqued your interest in pursuing a degree in education?

I had several awesome teachers in high school but I would say it was my AP Government and Politics teacher I had my junior year, T.R. Smith. Mr. Smith would go out to Utah and grade the AP tests and he had such deep knowledge and passion about the subject and I saw how students reacted to him and respected him and I knew I wanted to make that impact. Also my volleyball coach, Mrs. Holli Smith. She developed me as a player and a person and I cannot thank her enough for that. 

 

5. What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?

The most rewarding aspect of my job is watching students develop and grow. I live for those “aha” moments. I would also say the fact that as a teacher you never stop learning. I very much enjoy learning from my students, coworkers, and others about how to be the best teacher I can be. Each day is something new and there is always a new way to improve. 

 

6. What makes a great teacher?

A great teacher is enthusiastic and forgiving. They are someone who is passionate and enthusiastic about both their content and, most importantly, watching their students learn and develop as people. Being forgiving is huge because everyone makes mistakes and it’s about how we learn and move forward from those mistakes.

Kassidy Boots

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

I attended Riverside High School in Ellwood City, PA and graduated in 2016. From there, I started my college career at the Community College of Beaver County. While enrolled, I obtained my associate’s degree. In 2018, I transferred to SRU and loved every second of it! In December of 2020, I graduated with my Bachelor’s in Early Childhood and Special Education. Since graduation, I was a substitute teacher, but the experiences I have gained thus far have been unforgettable. I taught in a Life Skills Classroom at Riverside Middle School for about a month and really enjoyed the time I had with those kids. After that, my cooperating teacher (from when I was a student teacher) went on maternity leave and I took over for her. Gaining experience in her grade 6-8 learning support classroom at Riverside really benefited me as a new teacher. Currently, I am teaching in a self-contained learning support classroom.

 

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

I’ll never forget the experiences I had with the people that were in all of my classes during my education classes. We were all like a little family and we helped each other conquer all obstacles that came our way, especially when one of our semesters fell short due to COVID19. We did a lot together, from completing projects to having dinner. Those experiences made me feel like those classmates were another family of mine, for that I’m forever thankful!

 

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

All of my professors made an impact but Dr. Jeremy Lynch is the most unforgettable. He made his classes enjoyable. We didn’t learn by listening to him read notes off of PowerPoint. We learned from his stories, projects he had us do, and activities we completed. Dr. Lynch showed us he genuinely cared for each and every student he taught. You could see the passion for his profession.

 

4. What initially piqued your interest in pursuing a degree in education?

I had some of the best teachers in elementary school. They were teachers I could go to for advice, help, etc. They each made an impact on my life and I still keep in touch with some to this day. I realized later in my schooling career that I want to impact a student as much as my teachers have impacted me. I want to be that person students feel comfortable talking to.

 

5. What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?

Seeing that “ah-ha!” moment during a lesson is the most rewarding aspect of teaching. When a student grasps a skill or task, it is so rewarding not only for the teacher, but for the student as well. I love seeing students learn and grow once they understand a concept. 

 

6. What makes a great teacher?

A great teacher is someone who not only teaches the content to achieve the goals. A teacher is someone who shows they genuinely care about the students they teach. They teach from the heart. They connect with the students, and they don’t just pay attention to the outcomes. They pay attention to the students.

Jennifer Vatalare

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

I am from Charleston, WV and decided to get my degree from Slippery Rock. I am an Early Childhood Pre-K- 4th grade graduate. I am currently a 3rd Grade Teacher at Alban Elementary in West Virginia.

 

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

There were many experiences that I had while being at SRU. The clubs really helped me get great experiences along with everything that you can do during student teaching. I had a great Co-Op who made me the way I am today.

 

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

All of the education faculty really cared about me and never gave up helping me reach my goal.

 

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

I have always loved being with children and have always wanted to be a teacher since I was little.

 

5. What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?

Everyday I have had rewarding experiences! The first that day my school went hybrid, all of the students were so excited to learn in person and never stopped trying.

 

6. What makes a great teacher?

A great teacher never gives up. I had online learning for 70% of the school year and I never gave up finding new ways to teach my students online and enjoy being on zoom everyday.

Jen Barcella

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

I have taught for 23 years now: 

Special Education Learning Support Teacher for grades

1 - 6 at Hempfield School District, Lancaster, PA.
Elementary education grades 2 and 4 at Palm Beach County School District, Palm Beach County, FL.

Elementary Mathematics Curriculum Specialist for the Palm Beach County School District.

Elementary Education grade 5 at Saint Andrew’s School - Boca Raton, FL.
Elementary Education grade 4 at Ravenscroft School - Raleigh, NC.

 

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

In my time at Slippery Rock, I was able to participate in the student teaching program to Mexico City, Mexico.  During this experience we not only had an amazing student teaching experience in dual language classrooms, we traveled the country learning all about the different cultures and truly immersed ourselves in new adventures.  My favorite trip was to Puerto Escondido.  We decided to pack up our backpacks, head off to the airport, purchased plane tickets, then set off for our destination.  We had no idea what we were to expect when we got there.  Walking down the street we hear someone yell out to us in English.  This was a rare thing, to hear someone talking fluent English.  The family asked us what we were doing and we explained that we were student teachers from Slippery Rock teaching in Mexico City at the American Foundation School.  In true fashion of the people in Mexico, they invited us in.  They prepared a wonderful meal for us and hooked us up with a place to stay.  It was this experience that truly opened my eyes to understanding world cultures and how they impact others.  Becoming embraced with an open-mind to new adventures has changed my life completely.  

 

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

Dr. Gordon was my student teaching advisor.  He not only pushed us to be our best selves in the classroom, he taught us all how to be better people.  He took the time to immerse us in cultural experiences in Mexico City that many of us would have looked right past.  Dr. Gordon made us all want to be teachers that view the world around us with a growth mindset.  

 

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

I had always known that I wanted to be a teacher.  Early on in my life I learned that I loved working with others at school, on sports teams, in girl scouts and at church.  I always gravitated to volunteer work with special olympics, teaching pre school classes in high school, and being a camp counselor.  It was something that I have always wanted to be able to give back to the world that has given so much to me.  I believe that educators have the ability to impact our world.  

 

5. What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?

My students.  Watching them learn and grow as individuals.  

 

6. What makes a great teacher?

A life long learner that dedicates their professional knowledge to serve others.  A person that sees the world as an open canvas full of opportunities and realizes that every person is an individual with unique talents and abilities that are waiting to be discovered.