When Mrs. Vater reentered the halls of the Greater Latrobe High School, she felt as if she was home again. Even though she has only been here for this school year, Mrs. Vater is inspiring students day in and day out.
Respect radiates in her classroom through each student. Each student feels a certain sort of home when in Mrs. Vaters classroom. ¨ Mrs. Vater shows tons of respect in her classroom,¨ explains senior Ally Harris. Students can see the respect she gives them, and can feel the radiant respect she gives other students.
Mrs.Vater understands the life of a teenager in twenty-twenty-six. Teenagers in public high schools often have after-school activities and priorities that can hinder homework time; her students appreciate having the ability to get their work done and still get enough sleep to be healthy. Flexibility in the classroom is something truly needed for success.
Kendra Rafferty said, ¨ The flexibility Mrs. Vater gives me, and my peers, is something that means a lot to me. I am someone who truly cares about my grades, but also finds that I have so many things planned and going on especially with this year being my senior year.” Students in Mrs. Vaters class have the flexibility of knowing that as long as they are putting in their best effort she is more than willing to work with them to ensure they are having a balanced life of academics and extracurriculars.
Mrs. Vaters previous experience of teaching in a public magnent school gave her extremely admirable attributes of teacher. Experience is something valuable to have in any profession, especially teaching. It allows for new techniques to be learned on the best ways to teach students and accommodate them whilst they are all learning at different levels and paces.
¨ I taught at an International Baccalaureate school, and it was also what was known as a magnet school. Basically, that means it was public, but you couldn’t just go there. The people from the general public schools had to be tested in this school. So students that attended this school had higher expectations for the work they would receive and there was generally more expected of them.¨ explained Vater. Experience is something no one doubts Mrs. Vater is blessed to have. For only being at Greater Latrobe for one year the fact that she is able to make an impact on students as a new person in the district showcases the wonderful experience she has had in her previous opportunities.
Doing something new whether it is taking a new job, or going to a new school comes with some nerves and most likely some ups and downs while learning the new environment. But Mrs. Vater truly seems to feel that Latrobe was just the right opportunity for her. Vater explains, ¨When I decided to take the opportunity at Latrobe I was of course a little nervous as I knew it would be different from where I had taught at before. Although I have a deep love for Latrobe. As an alumnus, I know some of these teachers and this district. Latrobe is a place where I was already comfortable, and during my first year I have only been proved correct in that this decision was the right thing. Not only from staff but from the truly impeccable students. It just further my love, and passion for teaching.¨
Finding your passion through following in the footsteps of someone you love is one of the most rewarding things. Especially when it comes to following an educator’s footsteps, because that means whether big or small, they made an impact and showed that your passion stems from wanting to do the same thing for someone else. ¨My mom is also a teacher. Watching her when I was young is what truly created the spark for where I am now. Seeing her work with her students and feeling her deep love for what she does made me realize I wanted to follow her and I wanted to do the same thing and provide for students what she provided for them.¨ Even while knowing teaching isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, seeing someone you truly love can make you realize it is your passion.
Teaching truly isn’t easy nowadays. It takes someone with strength and resilience to make a career that they truly love from teaching, as it is easy to get worn down and to just allow the bare minimum to happen. Mrs. Vater knows this will not happen to her, though. She has resilience. When she puts her mind to something, it will get done, and done right. She is so thankful for this trait as it allows her to find new ways to love her passion once she gets worn down, instead of just giving up. Her resilience allows her to stand her right back up.
Mrs. Vater is truly a beloved teacher in GLSD, even though she has only been here for a short time. Students are beyond thankful to have her here and hope she knows how much she means to them.
