Stephani Damato

 

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 2014 with a bachelor's degree in Secondary English Education & Writing, and I graduated again from SRU in 2016 with my master's in Special Education 7-12. I worked at a school for troubled youth, George Junior Republic in Grove City, PA, for seven years as a high school special education teacher and high school English teacher. I taught various subjects including English, reading, creative writing, writing in the workplace, science, math, history, and health. Currently, I work at Commonwealth Charter Academy, a public cyber school that spans across Pennsylvania, where I teach 10th grade English. 

 

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

There are several experiences during my time at SRU that I will never forget. One thing (or, I suppose, several things) that I cherish the most are the trips I went on with the Honors Program (now the Honors College). Through this academic program, I was able to attend various musicals and productions, and travel to other cities like Chicago and Washington D.C. Experiencing the culture, diversity, and education that these trips offered, as well as simply spending time with my peers and professors, are memories that I hold dear. I believe travel plays a critical role in a person's life and growth, and I am extremely grateful that this SRU program gave me so many momentous experiences that I reflect fondly on to this day. 

 

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

One faculty member that had, and continues to have, a positive influence on me is Dr. Timothy Oldakowski (T.O.). I took several of his courses during my undergrad years and attended my first Pennsylvania Council of Teachers of English and Language Arts (PCTELA) conference with him and my fellow English cohorts, which in and of itself was a unique and enlightening experience. T.O. also supervised a project for me in order to earn credit hours for the SRU Honors Program, now the Honors College (which he helped me with, successfully). My project was to write a young adult fiction novel which was then critiqued and reviewed by T.O. Recently, I was invited by T.O. to attend a Zoom Q&A session with his current education students. He is someone whom I am in contact with to this day, and I am grateful to have made this connection during my time at SRU.

 

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

I have been "teaching" my younger sister since we were very young. I have always had an interest in educating people and helping them when they are in need. In middle school, my love for English and writing launched into motion, and I have never truly considered another career path since. I remember sitting in my 9th grade English classroom as the teacher spoke about Romeo and Juliet, and specifically thinking to myself: I can't wait to be at the front of the class instead of sitting in the audience. I made it my goal to be the best teacher I can be, and have been pursuing the craft with vigor and curiosity ever since. 

 

5. What do you love most about teaching? 

I love many aspects of teaching, but one thing that stands out among the rest is my students. I enjoy communicating with and collaborating with my students. Being able to teach the youth of America, and to see the amazing things that they create, is one of the highlights of my career so far in education. I love when my students have clearly taken away something from our discussions and lessons, and in turn, I learn a lot from them as well.

 

6. What makes a great teacher? 

A great teacher is someone who knows the content and can lead others, but most importantly, someone who is passionate and empathetic. Every student has the capacity to learn regardless of their circumstances, but some students have obstacles and barriers that threaten their access and attitude toward education. In order to reach all students, a great educator must be able to step away from the curriculum and purposefully create a positive rapport with each student so that together, they can break down the barriers to education that they, their family, or even society have constructed.