Emily West

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

My educational background consists of attending and graduating from Canon McMillan High School in 2016 and then attending and graduating from Slippery Rock in 2020. Currently, I am enrolled in an Educational Leadership Masters Program at PennWest University.  I started my teaching journey at an alternative educational setting. I worked at Merakey Education and Autism Center as an Autistic Support Teacher for 2 years before I decided to expand my career. I am currently working as a Kindergarten Teacher at California Area School District in California PA. 

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

I will never forget the last day of my student-teaching experience at Streams Elementary in Upper St. Clair School District. It was the same day that the school announced that it would be shutting down due to COVID-19, the students were scared and unsure of what was happening, one student came up to me and said "it must be scary wanting to be a teacher. I wish that you could stay with us longer so you could help us feel better about not coming to school". I just thought for a second that this student, with all that was going on in her life, stopped to think about how the shutdown affected the teachers as well. I was only in that placement for a couple of months but I had built connections with the students strong enough for them to want me to be a part of this unsure period in their lives. 

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

Dr. Linda Zane had a very positive influence on me. She was very passionate about the physical space of the classroom and how that has an effect on the students and their learning. That passion is something that I carry with me every day and is something that proved to be very important in every classroom I have held. 

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

I knew from a young age that I wanted to be a teacher. As I worked through my educational career I had a hard time in school socially and never really felt like I had a safe space or someone that I trusted to talk to. Through those experiences, I had a passion that began to grow in me to be that person for other students.  I was always able to build connections with kids; as I got older, it just felt natural to teach younger children. 

5. What do you love most about teaching?

I love knowing that I am making an impact on a student. I love seeing the smiles when they walk into the classroom and watching them grow each and every day. It is the most rewarding thing in the world. 

6. What makes a great teacher?

I think that my love and passion for teaching are what make me a great teacher. My class is everything to me and I would do anything that I could to support my students. 

 

Emily Turkovich

What is your educational background and what positions have you held? Please include the current school district and grade/s.

I am on my third-year teaching 2nd grade at Antietam Elementary in Virginia. I am currently enrolled at Shenandoah University to get my master’s degree in Literacy Education to obtain a reading specialist license.

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

Something I will never forget about SRU is how fun the atmosphere was on a beautiful sunny day. Everyone was always out doing something and noticeably in better moods.

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

Dr. Vetere, Dr. Hilton, and Dr. Pease-Hernandez were all super kind professors that always made class interesting and fun. I felt I learned a lot from them because they truly showed they cared about their students.

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

Growing up I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. I have always loved working with children & loved the idea of getting my own classroom to decorate and make fun for my students.

5. What do you love most about teaching?

My favorite part about teaching is building relationships with my students, and showing them they are loved and they matter. I also love seeing the growth in each student from the beginning to end of the year, after working so hard together.

6. What makes a great teacher?

Someone who can advocate for students and give them the support they need to be successful. Someone who takes the time to get to know their students and make each and every child feel special and important.

 

Lorah Momeyer

1. What is your educational background and what positions have you held? Please include the current school district and grade/s.

I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Health and Physical Education from SRU and a minor in Adapted Physical Activity. I am currently a long-term substitute teacher at Pine-Richland School District teaching 9th grade Health & PE. 

 

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

An experience at SRU that I will never forget was my student teaching at Moon Area School District. I had always thought that I had a preference for elementary school, and while I loved that experience, it was when I switched to the high school that I felt like I really grew as an educator. My cooperating teacher was such an amazing role model and taught me so much about building positive relationships with students. I specifically remember her forcing me out of my comfort zone during my 1st week to teach dance and being so nervous about something I had never done before. However, that experience taught me that no matter the subject, students are willing to learn from a teacher who is passionate, enthusiastic, and genuinely cares for them. 

 

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

There were so many amazing faculty members at SRU that had a positive influence on me, but 2 specifically stuck out to me. The first one is Dr. Nichols in the Health & PE Department. From my very first day on campus as a freshman up until graduation, Dr. Nichols was someone who I knew I could turn to whenever I needed help or guidance. He instilled a deep passion for teaching wellness in myself and so many of my peers, and I do not think that I would be the educator I am today without having him as a professor. 

Another faculty member that stands out as having a positive impact on me is Julie Varnish in the Student Engagement and Leadership Department. Julie is the advisor for the University Program Board and served as an amazing mentor to me during my time as Director of Special Events. She would consistently push me to do my best and encouraged me to think outside the box. The knowledge and experiences I had with Julie and UPB are skills that I will carry with me for the rest of my life, no matter where my career takes me. 

 

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

I knew from a young age that I wanted to be a teacher because I experienced 1st hand how much a good teacher can influence a student's life. I knew that I wanted a career in which I could see the direct impact I was having on those around me. Once I discovered SRU's renowned Health & PE program, there was no turning back for me. I instantly knew that that was the career path I wanted to pursue, and I would not have changed anything about my decision! 

 

5. What do you love most about teaching?

The aspect that I love most about teaching is building relationships with students. I love being someone that they can turn to in times of need. It is such a blessing to be able to shape the course of a student's life- not only academically, but who they are as a person. I love being able to teach students how to be the best version of themselves. 

 

6. What makes a great teacher?

 A great teacher is someone who is able to instill a passion for learning in their students. I believe that if an educator is able to get students excited about learning in whatever that subject area may be, they are a great teacher.