BROCKWAY, Pa. (EYT) – The Brockway Area School Board had a hard mission between school years, adding almost a dozen new faces to the classrooms.
(PICTURED: The new teachers at Brockway Area School District: Alec Shaffer-Doan, Jessie Zameroski, Bob Bateman, April Weaver, Debbie Snyder, Carly Wallock, Lindsay Zimmerman, Bret Zimmerman, Hunter Lydick, and Anthony Benson.)
Brockway had a series of retirements or resignations that Superintendent Jeff Vizza referred to as a “mass exodus” during his speech on the first day of the new school year.
Over the summer, Vizza thanked the school board for its work in finding the right teachers for the job.
“The board members put in a lot of effort and time,” Vizza said. “We had 11 retirements or resignations this past year. It takes a lot to find their replacements. We have many young educators coming in to take their positions, and that wouldn’t be possible without the board’s efforts.”
New kindergarten teacher Hunter Lydick is not exactly a new face. Lydick did his student teaching in Brockway, and when he graduated from Clarion University, he was asked to be a long-term substitute in first grade when one of the first of the “mass exodus” retired.
“I’m very excited to be staying here,” Lydick said. “The entire staff has treated me with nothing but respect and kindness during my block, student teaching, and substituting experiences. I am most excited to be starting the next part of my career with an awesome team of kindergarten teachers.”
Lydick is joined by another face familiar to Brockway. Anthony Benson graduated from Brockway Area School District and went on to graduate from Clarion University. Coming back to his old stomping grounds presented Benson with new excitement.
“I grew up here,” he said. “For a long time, I’ve wanted to give back to the community that has given me so much over the years. I want to be here in Brockway, and I want to make this school even better than it already is.”
Benson was a Brockway football star, like fourth-grade teacher Alec Shaffer-Doan. Doan also graduated from Clarion and is currently assisting with junior-high football at the school.
“The community involvement, the wonderful youth, and the excellent group of teachers are what excite me most about working here,” he said.
Debbie Snyder is the new Title I teacher in Brockway. She has substitute taught in Brockway for many years and has also been very involved in her church. She said she is excited to work with the Brockway district now as a full-time part of the community.
Lindsay Zimmerman is part of a new husband-and-wife team at Brockway. She worked at Jefferson-Clarion Head Start and is now teaching kindergarten. The Slippery Rock University graduate said teaching is her passion.
“Teaching is a true passion of mine and has been since I was very young,” she said. “Working for Head Start greatly prepared me for my new adventure.”
Her husband, Bret, is teaching economics and government at Brockway Area Junior-Senior High School. He went to Westminster College and subbed in Brockway before taking the full-time position.
Another new high school teacher is math teacher Carly Wallock. Wallock also went to Clarion and previously taught at Keystone School District. She student taught in Brockway and knew she wanted to work there.
“The faculty and staff were very welcoming and helpful, and it was very evident from the beginning that the faculty and students had very positive, professional relationships,” she said.
Another seasoned teacher came to Brockway, this time to teach technology. Bob Bateman spent six years at DuBois Area School District and is happy to take over some shop classes
“I am very excited to be working at Brockway because I have heard nothing but great things about the community, students, and staff here,” he said.
New home economics teacher April Weaver also has experience in teaching. Plus, she makes another husband-and-wife team in Brockway. Weaver’s husband teaches English in the district.
Jessie Zameroski brings a lot of experience to her job as a school psychologist. She has two master’s degrees from Edinboro University and is a nationally certified school psychologist. She said she is thrilled to join the team.
Bret Zimmerman summed up the experience of joining Brockway during the 2019-2020 school year.
“Brockway has a family atmosphere in the schools and town,” he said. “It’s hard to find this many great people in one place. The town supports the students and school district, and the staff has a very positive attitude. That is a key element to knowing that you have found the right place. I know that I have.”
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