19 new teachers and staff were welcomed to the high school’s faculty this year.
Faculty welcomes new staff members
This year, the high school welcomed 19 new teachers and staff members. Three of those teachers haven’t started yet due to their current jobs awaiting a replacement. Many of these new teachers are returning to their former high school. In this teacher feature, teachers shared some information with Mountain Echo reporters.
Shawna Myers
Q: Where did you go to high school and could you describe your high school experience? A: I went to a Portage Area High School in Portage Pa. I thoroughly enjoyed the high school band, chorus, track and many extra curricular activities. Q: How have the first few weeks of school gone for you? A: Great. I enjoyed meeting the students and getting back to teaching. Q: If you could describe y...
Mike Baker
Q: Where did you go to high school and could you describe your high school experience? A: “I am a 1990 Altoona Area High School graduate, and my high school experience was fantastic and that was actually one of the reasons I got into education because I thought it would have been a fun experience being a teacher.” Q: How have the first few weeks of school gone for you? A: “My current employe...
Carly Lessard
Q: Where did you go to high school and could you describe your high school experience? A: I went to Bishop Carol High School in Ebensburg, my high school experience was a lot different being at a private school compared to a big public school; I mean it was good. Q: How have the first few weeks of school gone for you? A: Really good. It's exciting meeting all the students and just getting ...
Robert Hofer
Q: Where did you go to high school and could you describe your high school experience? A: I went here, and it was fantastic. Q: How have the first few weeks of school gone for you? A: Great, smooth. Q-If you could describe your new classroom in one word what would it be? A: Bright. Q: Could you describe your prior teaching experience? A: I came from the life skills classrooms to wo...
Audrey Cromell
Q: Where did you go to high school and could you describe your high school experience? A: I went to high school at State High in State College, and I had a very hard time in high school. I was going through a lot in my life at that point, in school and out. Q: How have the first few weeks of school gone for you? A: Teaching ninth grade has definitely been an adjustment from being a full t...
Megan Kutruff
Q: Where did you go to high school and could you describe your high school experience? A: I went to Altoona Area High School. I had a great experience in high school. I became a teacher because of who used to be in the next room over. I had some really good teachers. It was just an overall great experience. Q: How have the first few weeks of school gone for you? A: It's been all right. ...
Kaleb Marasco
Q: Where did you go to high school and could you describe your high school experience? A: Altoona, I did a lot of sports. I played soccer and swam. I was always involved in something. I did student council. Q: How have the first few weeks of school gone for you? A: Crazy, it's been super busy. Not used to all the kids being in the building. Q: If you could describe your new classro...
Megan Russler
Q: Where did you go to high school and could you describe your high school experience? A: I went to State College. I had an awesome high school experience with various group of friends. I loved high school and all of my teachers. Q: How have the first few weeks of school gone for you? A: It was pretty good; I really appreciate help from coworkers. They have been so friendly and supportive. Q:...
Alyssa Weidlich
Q: Where did you go to high school and could you describe your high school experience? A: I actually went to high school here, at Altoona, and I definitely had a really great experience at the school. Q: How have the first few weeks of school gone for you? A: Things have been pretty overwhelming at times. I feel like we are starting to settle back into the process of having in person classes, having fa...
Maria Tyger
Q: Where did you go to high school and could you describe your high school experience? A: I went to a very small high school in Jeannette, PA. So coming to a school that's this big, it was a little startling. My old school was only two long hallways, and there were only 127 kids in my graduating class. Q: How have the first few weeks of school gone for you? A: Beautifully, I love the kids;...
Mary Heiple
Q: Where did you go to high school and could you describe your high school experience? A: I went to Rockwood High School; it was a really great experience. It was a much smaller school than Altoona. I graduated with about 58 people total, so we really knew everybody in our class and knew everything about everybody. That’s pretty much where my love of biology sparked. So I had four biology cla...
Jessica Vanoutryve
Q: Where did you go to high school and could you describe your high school experience? A: Altoona Area High School; I was a cheerleader and involved in various clubs within the school. Q: How have the first few weeks of school gone for you? A: Every day brings something different, and no day is boring. Q: If you could describe your new classroom in one word what would it be? A: Bri...
Jim De’Angelo
Q: Where did you go to high school and could you describe your high school experience? A: I went to high school in Bishop O’Hara school. I had a great high school experience. It was a smaller school but everyone knew everyone else. Q: How have the first few weeks of school gone for you? A: The first couple weeks have been a bit hectic coming from elementary school to secondary has been an adjustment....
Heather Eckles
Q: Where did you go to high school and could you describe your high school experience? A: I graduated from Altoona in 1995. I think our student body was about the same size. But it was tenth, eleventh and twelfth. There was a big change from junior high to high school. In the high school there were so many kids in one place that there weren’t any cliques, like you could just belong. I really e...
LeeAnn Haynal
Q: Where did you go to high school and could you describe your high school experience? A: I went to Conemaugh Valley, which is in Johnstown. It’s a very small school. Everybody knew everybody, and it was great. I graduated with 68 students, so it was a huge adjustment coming to Altoona to work because it’s massive. I was low key in high school. I was on the yearbook, I was on the newspaper, I ...
Ann Rowles
Q: Where did you go to high school and could you describe your high school experience? A: I went to Clearfield High School; I graduated with a little over 200 kids. I took a lot of honors classes, and it was a pretty easy experience for me going into college. Q: How have the first few weeks of school gone for you? A: Good, a lot of the fellow teachers have helped me out immensely by getting...
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