Marie Ellis

 

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

I graduated from SRU in the fall of 2018 with a degree in Secondary Education English 7-12 and a minor in dance. After learning about the opportunity to become a graduate assistant in the Secondary Education Department, I decided to continue my education at the Rock and I graduated with a Master’s degree in Secondary Education English during the spring of 2020. Upon graduating with my M.Ed., I held a variety of long term substitute positions including Emotional and Autistic Support, 6th grade Social Studies, and 8th grade Reading within the Grove City Area School District. This school year, I have been hired right across the way as a 9th and 10th grade English teacher at Slippery Rock Area High School! 

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

My time at SRU was filled with so many wonderful memories and experiences; however, I will never forget the time I was invited by Dr. Hogue to speak with current Education majors about the journey to my own classroom. This moment came full circle for me because I remembered sitting in the McKay Auditorium seats as a freshman and feeling both excited and overwhelmed at the prospect of becoming a classroom teacher as the panelists spoke about their own journeys. For me, it was a privilege for me to come back to the place that helped shape me as a teacher and share my own pieces of knowledge that I have gained along the way. 

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

There were multiple professors that helped me grow as both a person and an educator throughout my time at SRU: Dr. Hicks was a wonderful advisor that always reminded me of the bigger picture. Dr. Christmann’s door was always open to share stories and more often than not, Dr. Hicks and Germaine (the SEFE secretary) would join in on the conversation. Dr. Oldakoswki kept learning fresh and inspired my love for making learning creative for my students. Dr. Permenter challenged me as an English student and a writer through her undeniable passion for literature. While I could go on and list many more influential professors, those listed above truly stand out to this day. 

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

Growing up, my dad taught high school chemistry and my mom owned a dance studio and taught dance classes. I loved helping my dad grade papers and I enjoyed teaching the little ones alongside my mom at the studio, so I knew from a young age that I loved teaching and being around people. As I went through high school and began to think about my career, I always knew that I wanted teaching to be a part of my life. My yearbook advisor in high school and several of my English teachers also inspired me to become a teacher. 

5. What do you love most about teaching?

There are moments during the school day when I realize just how lucky I am that I get to teach kids every day. I love making connections with students and there is truly nothing like the quirkiness that 9th graders bring to the table. They constantly humble me and remind me to find joy in the little things. Teaching can certainly be challenging, but I love creating and bringing joy into my classroom and sharing it with my students. 

6. What makes a great teacher?

In my opinion, a great teacher is someone who teaches with empathy, shows compassion, and leads by example. Students may not remember the themes in The Outsiders or why Macbeth is a Shakepsearean tragedy, but they will always remember how they felt in a classroom. I firmly believe that a great teacher is someone who the students respect and can rely on as a constant in their day. In my mind, being a great teacher is a privilege and with that comes a great responsibility.