Career Focus: Education
May’s Career Focus is education, and we interviewed current seniors and alumni to ask how Allegheny has prepared them for this career and their work shaping the future of young minds.
Shoshana Robbins ’19 from Deerfield, Illinois
Community and Justice Studies Major, Education Studies and Political Science Minors
What made you want to go into education, and did you know this was what you wanted to do when you came to Allegheny?
I’ve known I wanted to go into education since high school!
How has Allegheny helped you on this path?
The ability for me to minor in education and major in something completely different is the reason why I chose to come to Allegheny. This model has allowed me to explore the field of education and thoroughly understand that becoming a teacher is much more than just lecturing at students. Since coming to Allegheny, I have not only gotten an amazing liberal arts education, but I have also gained a huge support network that has helped me seek out a number of education-based opportunities abroad.”
Which professor has had the biggest impact on your time at Allegheny?
Professor Susan Slote and Professor Heather Moore Roberson have been my support system since day one. They have continuously reminded me of the importance of the work I am doing and have served as mentors to me for the past four years.
On campus, Robbins is a member of Kappa Alpha Theta, Hillel, and the Pre-Education Club, is an Allegheny Volunteer Service Leader, and is the senior student representative on the Education Studies Steering Committee.
Taylor Looney ’19, from Zelienople, Pennsylvania
Spanish Major, Psychology and Education Studies Minors
What made you want to go into education, and did you know this was what you wanted to do when you came to Allegheny?
Ever since I can remember, I have always known that I wanted to become a teacher.
How has Allegheny helped you on this path?
Being an education studies minor, you have the opportunity to intern at some of the local schools in Meadville. I have taken multiple internships, which only reassured me that I had the passion for the educational field.
Which professor has had the biggest impact on your time at Allegheny?
Professor Jennifer Foreman and Professor Susan Slote have had such an impact on my time at Allegheny College. I had the privilege to take multiple classes with both of these women, and they have always welcomed their students with a warm smile and enthusiasm inside and outside the classroom. It was always a pleasure visiting them both during their office hours; they were always happy to help and answer any questions. They possess qualities of sincerity, passion, care for their work and their students — all qualities that I desire to have when I become a teacher. They’ve supported and encouraged me to work hard to achieve my goals as a teacher. I am so thankful for both of these intelligent women; they’ve guided and contributed to my graduate school applications, which led to my acceptance at the University of Pittsburgh for my master’s in education.
On campus, Looney is captain of the Allegheny Cheerleading Team, is a member of Alpha Chi Omega, and works as a Spanish teaching assistant.
Sabina Sully ’05
Allegheny College Degree: Women’s Studies Major, History Minor
How did Allegheny help lead you to a career in education?
While I was a student at Allegheny, I had no idea that I would eventually go on to become an educator. However, my time at Allegheny instilled in me a passion for social justice and the desire to choose a career path that would make a difference in the lives of others. As I explored career options post-graduation, choosing to work in the Baltimore City Public School System felt like a very natural match with those interests.
How did Allegheny prepare you for life after graduation?
My experience at Allegheny was incredibly positive, and though my women’s studies major was far from skill based, I felt like I had the foundational problem-solving and critical-thinking skills to tackle most tasks. The rigorous standards of my courses at Allegheny allowed me to enter into my graduate studies with confidence.
Where do you work and what is your focus?
I work at Patterson Park Public Charter School, which is a public charter is Baltimore City, Maryland. I currently teach seventh-grade English language arts.
What would you recommend to students pursuing a career in education?
I would encourage anyone interested in a future career in education to take advantage of the flexible nature of the liberal arts degree that Allegheny offers. I love being able to discuss a wide variety of topics with my students and introduce them to literature and ideas that I likely would not have encountered in a traditional teaching program. Though I would suggest looking into the state requirements for the state in which you hope to teach to ensure you are taking the required prerequisite coursework for your desired area of certification, I would not be afraid to branch out and take classes that inspire you or spark your interest, even if they don’t seem directly related to a future career path.
Jim Miller ’99
Allegheny College degree: Environmental Studies Major, Communications Minor
How did Allegheny help lead you to a career in education?
Allegheny was a great experience and one that I hold in high regard. The rigor of the courses and the great instructors truly made Allegheny an amazing experience. The diversity of the students and the friendships you make while a student are unforgettable and will be with you for the rest of your life. Every chance I get I encourage my students to look at Allegheny and see if they think they would be a good fit to go there.”
How did Allegheny prepare you for life after graduation?
The work ethic for the rigorous classes, the importance of experiential learning, and the emphasis on diversity and people with different backgrounds and cultures than myself really helped to prepare me for life after graduation.
Where do you work and what is your focus?
I teach at Cleveland Heights High School (13 years). I teach AP environmental science and environmental science, and I was the head swim coach for 12 years. I am also on the instructional team for Miami University’s Global Field Program and have been part of the instructional teams in Belize — four times — and in Borneo.
What would you recommend to students pursuing a career in education?
Education is one of the most challenging careers out there, but it also one of the most rewarding. Seeing your students walk across the stage and then come back to you years later, boasting about what they have accomplished since they left my classroom, makes everything I do worthwhile.
Both Sabina Sully and Jim Miller were recently awarded a 2018–19 Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms Program fellowship, which allowed them to travel to Africa to teach and observe. For the full article on their experience, click here.
For more information about Allegheny’s Education Studies minor, click here.