Zachary Mehal

 

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 with a Masters of Education in the Fall of 2015. I currently work for a virtual charter school in the state of Pennsylvania as a high school chemistry teacher. I’ve held this role since graduating SRU with my masters. 

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

The one SRU experience that transformed my life and career was the opportunity to study abroad in Ireland for 4 weeks. Becoming immersed in a culture different than what I was used to really opened my eyes how education is so much more than a classroom experience. I still keep in contact with the connections I’ve made. The experience boosted my confidence in the classroom; especially knowing the pedagogy and teaching strategies learned at SRU transcend cultures. For example, I’ll never the forget how a group of students thought they could “act up” since I was the student teacher during my first week teaching in the Irish school. When the students wouldn’t stop talking, I distinctly remember turning off the lights and pausing for what felt like an eternity but the room became quiet to the point where you could hear a pin drop. I learned there are some time tested strategies with teaching that work no matter what educational setting you are in! Plus, the weekend trips to explore the Irish countryside and cities just added a special touch to the experience.

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

Dr. Jeffrey Lehman had a positive influence on me during my time at SRU. First of all, as my advisor, he was really encouraging and always gave feedback in a constructive way that never seemed condescending or punitive. He also encouraged me to apply to the study abroad program in Ireland, which really opened my eyes to life outside of PA. I am forever grateful and thankful for his advice, encouragement, and feedback during my time at SRU. 

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

Ever since I was little, I had a passion for learning. I remember helping my younger sister with her homework and forming study groups with my fellow classmates; however, I was not ready to pursue education as a career upon graduating high school. It wasn’t until my undergraduate experience that I realized my calling was education. I specifically remember being asked by my professors to become tutors for classes to help fellow students. The experience of getting to work with students, get paid, and also review the content helped pushed me to decide education as a career. Even when I worked in industry I was assigned to develop training resources for onboarding and incoming employees. These experiences all validated my calling for becoming a teacher. 

5. What do you love most about teaching?

I enjoy getting to interact with students each day and take on the challenge of getting them interested in learning tough content. When I see students start to make connections and get invested in the activities, I become fueled to keep going. And even when lessons don’t go according to plan or students do not take interest, I enjoy the challenge of improving the lesson to reach each student in the next class.  

6. What makes a great teacher?

A great teacher connects with their students, knows what motivates them, and find ways to make the content accessible, understandable, and attainable, for everyone in the classroom. I want my students to leave the classroom learning something knew without them feeling like it’s a process they “have” to go through. In other words, I great teacher wants their students to want to come to class each day. 

Chedel Beck

 

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 with my Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science in 2016.  More recently, I graduated from Slippery Rock with my Master of Education in Secondary Education in May 2023.  Since graduating, I had a long term substitute position at Carson Middle School in the North Allegheny School District as a 7th grade Life Science teacher.  After that I had a short term substitute position at Moon Area Middle School as a 7th grade Life Science teacher.  Currently, I got a permanent contract position as a 6th grade science teacher at Carson Middle School in the North Allegheny School District; this school year is my first year in that position. 

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

One SRU experience that I will never forget is attending graduation for my Masters degree.

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

One SRU faculty member that had a positive influence on me was Dr. Hicks because he was transparent about teaching and the ups and downs that can come with it.

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

I became interested in pursuing a degree in education because I enjoyed working with youth in my experiences as a swim coach and a high school youth group leader at my church.  I initially wanted to go into the medical field, but decided that wasn't for me; however, I was still interested in science and wanted to pair that with my passion for working with children.

5. What do you love most about teaching?

The thing I love most about teaching is knowing that I've made a positive impact on students, helped them learn, and helped them grow as people.

6. What makes a great teacher?

One thing that makes me a great teacher is my ability to quickly build a rapport with my students and colleagues.

Hailey (Tammaro) Hughes

 

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

I am an alumna of Laurel High School. After graduating, I earned my bachelor's degree in biology from Westminster College. I then pursued my master's degree in secondary education at Slippery Rock University. Upon completing my studies, I worked at New Castle High School for one year before transitioning to Union High School. I currently teach Biology, AP Biology, and Anatomy & Physiology. 

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

One experience at SRU I will never forget is the field experience at New Castle High School. Unfortunately, it was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, I remember it as the first time I stood in front of a biology classroom, assisting with labs, and designing and delivering my first lesson. I recall my excitement at experiencing my initial taste of being a teacher.

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

Dr. Mark Hogue is the faculty member who had the most positive influence on me. He not only covered the syllabus content but also provided practical teaching advice, ranging from the interview process to classroom setup and effectively engaging students in the lesson. He offered assistance even beyond graduation when I was applying for my first teaching job. He is a professor who goes above and beyond for his students, and it does not go unnoticed! 

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

Initially, I went to college to become a veterinarian. However, after shadowing a veterinarian and nearly passing out during a routine surgery on a dog, I realized it was probably wise to change career paths. Uncertain of my direction, I was teaching horseback riding lessons when a parent remarked, "You have a gift for teaching; you're great with the kids."  It was like something clicked, and I realized that I wanted to teach one of my other passions: biology. After taking a few education classes, I fell in love with the profession and knew it was my calling.

5. What do you love most about teaching?

What I love most about teaching is being the one to teach students how the natural world around them works. I love seeing their faces when I tell them they were once a single cell or watching their jaws drop when I reveal that they have about 38 trillion bacteria cells living in and on their bodies. Hearing, "Wow, that's amazing!" when they look into a microscope for the first time and see the microscopic world around them is invigorating. I love seeing my students get excited and interested in biology; it makes my job worthwhile!

6. What makes a great teacher?

A great teacher loves their job and what they teach. Students can tell when a teacher is passionate about their subject, which makes them want to know more (most of the time, haha!). A great teacher holds their students to high standards but also understands that they have lives outside of school and, therefore, have grace and patience for those bad days. Lastly, a great teacher must care about their students. Not only caring about their grades but also their well-being and future. For some students, a great teacher is one of the only positive influences they have in their lives, and it is both a privilege and a responsibility for teachers.