1. What is your educational background and what positions have you held? Please include the current school district and grade/s.
I graduated from Slippery Rock University in the spring of 2017 with a BS in Secondary Education Social Studies. I have been teaching at Warren County High School in Front Royal, Virginia since the fall of 2017. I currently teach United States and Virginia History to high school juniors.
2. Name one SRU experience, in general or specific to the field, that you will never forget and explain why.
One experience that stands out would be the first education class I took with Dr. Hilton. He asked every student, "Why do you want to be a teacher"? I still remember my answer was to make a positive difference in as many lives as possible. After good days of teaching and some bad ones I still think back to that class.
3. Name an SRU faculty that had a positive influence on you and explain why.
I was fortunate enough to have multiple professors provide a profound impact on my educational path. Dr. Hilton stands out because he served as my academic advisor and professor for multiple classes. Every class I learned new skills that proved to be immediately applicable to my life. I never had to question or wonder about the purpose of his lessons or assignments. Dr. Hilton would start each class with a practice interview question. We would answer it individually, and then Dr. Hilton would provide advice to improve our answers. It felt like a cheat sheet for every job interview.
4. What initially piqued your interest in pursuing a degree in education?
I started off as an Exploratory Major freshman year. I tried taking some introduction classes for different majors, but nothing ever really clicked. I knew I wanted to have a profession that made a difference and I would (hopefully) have people remember me for. As a kid I always thought it was so cool to read people's names in history books, and I wanted to be able to read my own name in a history book one day too. Then I realized that history books aren’t the only way you can be remembered; teaching could give me that same opportunity.
5. What do you love most about teaching?
There are not many professions like teaching. You have a chance to positively impact someone's life each and every day. As a teacher, I do not know everything about my students' lives. However, just by greeting them and talking to them, I can show my support and hopefully be a bright spot in their day.
6. What makes a great teacher?
A great teacher’s impact goes beyond the classroom. They take a genuine interest in their students' lives. Creating structure, lesson plans, warm ups, exit tickets, etc are all important, but students have to feel like you care about their success. Attending sporting events, plays/musicals, volunteering at dances, coaching, or even asking about their pets and jobs can make all the difference. I think it is important to take an interest in their life, and they will take an interest in your class.
