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Trio of speakers guide Clarion University education majors

From left: Dr. Joe Carrico, Brenda Brinker, and Ted Pappas.

Dr. Patricia Kolencik, associate professor of education at Clarion University, believes that some information for her students must come from outside the classroom. With the Spring 2008 semester winding down, Kolencik invited three local high school administrators, all Clarion University graduates, to speak to her Education 110: Introduction to Education class.

Addressing the students were Brenda Brinker, superintendent for the AC Valley School District; Dr. Joe Carrico, superintendent for the Oil City School District; and Ted Pappas, superintendent for the Clarion-Limestone School District. Each brought a distinctive, individual message for the future teachers.

“It is both a privilege and a pleasure to have these administrators speak to my classes,” said Kolencik, who brings these and other administrators to her classroom on a regular basis. “Having these administrators from the trenches speak enables students to connect the theory to the realities and challenges of the teaching profession and provides a solid framework for these teacher-candidates as they prepare for the future. Students indicate that all the speakers are informative and worthwhile because they learn first-hand about school administrators’ expectations when they get a teaching position.”

Brinker highlighted what school districts look for when they hire a teacher and what the students should think about in preparing to search for a job. She provided information on application packet do’s and don’ts, interview do’s and don’ts, and expectations for new teachers.

A 1973 graduate of Clarion University, Brinker taught in the elementary schools in the Union School District for 26 1/2-years. She earned her principal’s certification from Westminster College in 2001 and was hired as an elementary principal in the Punxsutawney School District. She continued on to earn her superintendent’s certification from Westminster College in July 2005 and was hired in April 2007 as the superintendent of the AC Valley School District.

Carrico spoke to the students about the realities of teaching explaining that it is the only profession where the more experience and credentials that are earned the less marketable the teacher becomes. He recommended focusing on the future, getting a master’s degree, and making sure that they remain in teaching for the right reasons. He urged making sure the community where they apply for a job will be a fit for them and to keep up with the technology, because it will drive school districts in the future.

A 1990 Clarion University graduate with a degree in secondary education/social studies, Carrico taught at ABRAXAS, Rocky Grove High School, and West Forest High School before joining the Oil City School District.

Pappas spoke to the students about expectations and not letting expectations become a limitation. He explained personal expectations, the expectations of the public for teacher, the expectations of the school district for teachers, cautioning them that they will have to be more than a teacher and be willing to make changes to adjust to growing technology use.

He received his undergraduate degree in social studies in 1985 and master’s degree in reading in 1992 from Clarion University. He has been in education for 23 years. He has been an administrator for 15 years, six as the North Clarion principal and the previous seven as an elementary principal in the Keystone School District.

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