Dr. Toni Mild

What courses are you currently teaching?

SPED 121 - High Incidence Disabilities

SPED 230 - Developmental Disabilities

SPED 809 - Transition from School to Adult Life

What are you most proud of concerning those courses?

I am most proud of my students and the thoughtful questions they ask. This shows me that I have them engaged in the content and interested in knowing more about it. This will make them better educators in the near future!

What scholarly/projects are you working on in your classes?

One of my classes just finished presentations on physical and eating competencies for students with severe physical disabilities. Another class is  creating a handbook as a resource for themselves, parents, and/or students on specific Assistive Technology devices that would be helpful for students with hearing impairments, visual impairments, autism and physical impairments. Another class is completing a competency log that requires them to create a Re-evaluation Report, an Individualized Education Program, a Behavior Intervention Plan, Progress Monitoring Data, and twolesson plans that they are required to teach.

What student stories can you share?

My favorite student stories are the ones that end with success. There is nothing better as a college professor than to watch a student push through all of the hardships and obstacles that they are enduring and to ultimately become a success story. One of my students lost both of their parents at a young age and took on the role of "caretaker" to their younger sibling. They continued this "role" even through college. Although they had many reasons to make excuses, miss class, not get assignments turned in or just to simply drop out, they didn't. They pushed through, overcame the many odds against them and now own a successful daycare facility.  I am truly blessed to have been able to be a part of that student's story.

What do you do for fun during your free time or school break?

When I have free-time, I spend it with my husband and three children. That usually means being at one of our children's sporting events. When I am not in a gym, on a ball field, etc. our family likes to spend time at the beach with friends and family.

What most do you appreciate about SRU?

As a new employee, I most appreciate the friendliness, kindness and respect that I have experienced across the campus. It is also very refreshing to see an institution be so "student-centered" in all of its decision-making!

What made you want to be a faculty member at the college level?

My passion is advocating for all students and how they are treated in schools. Being at the college level allows me to shape future teachers and ultimately be a larger "change agent" than I was within the K-12 school system. I can reach more future teachers and help our youth get the best teachers possible - which is what each and every child deserves.

If you could have one superpower, what would it be? Why?

If I could have one superpower, it would be to make all students, no matter their age, "abilities" shine brighter/stand out more than their disabilities. A student with a disability is made up of many things. That disability is just one of those things. It is not solely who they are and it shouldn't define them.

Dr. Richard Busi

Tell me about yourself. What is your educational background and where have you worked previously? 

I started my college education at Slippery Rock University and graduated in 2006 with a B.S. in mathematics with a minor in biology. During my undergraduate time, I began working for the tutoring center in Bailey Library. I enjoyed helping others learn mathematics and knew almost immediately I wanted to enter SRU’s M.Ed. program. I did and graduated in 2007. The next 3 years were spent teaching high school math. One year was in Las Vegas at Valley High School and two were in Pennsylvania at Cranberry Area School District. After gaining that experience, I attended the University of Florida and completed my Ph.D. in 2014. I was hired at James Madison University in Virginia where I taught for two years. Now I am back to Slippery Rock and couldn’t be happier.

What attracted you to Slippery Rock University, and in particular, the education department?

It comes a lot from being here previously and being in contact with faculty who worked here when I was a student. There are some good things going on at SRU, and I am excited to be a part of it.

What are your research interests?

My research interests include teachers’ mathematical knowledge and beliefs, which means a focus on helping teachers and prospective teachers develop ways of knowing mathematics helpful for student learning. What you know and believe makes a difference in how you are willing and able to teach. Research has shown us that teaching mathematics by today’s standards requires much different ways of knowing than traditional instruction did.

What research projects are you currently working on?

I am working on two research projects with colleagues from PA, VA, and FL. One is centered on the mindset beliefs of prospective mathematics teachers and the other on uses of formative assessment in the K-12 classroom.

What classes do you teach?

It varies, but right now I am teaching the graduate field experience course, the middle level math methods course, the secondary methods course, the middle level learning theories course, and the adolescent development course.

What is your favorite course to teach? Why?

I enjoy all of my classes; however, if I could pick out one element, I would say field experience because students get to pair theory with practice. Often, field is the first time in the building for education students, and those moments provide very important learning experiences.

What is the most rewarding experience as a teacher/professor?

Working with folks who want to be teachers, and folks who specifically would like to teach math. The best part is helping them work through any difficulties or apprehension related to the field of teaching. For example, helping teachers make gains in their practice or helping prospective teachers get their feet on the ground with field and student teaching experiences.

What were you like as a college student?

I was pretty typical, I guess. I originally considered being an engineer, a biologist, then a veterinarian. It didn’t work out that way, and I changed majors a few times as many students do. The math major kept me busy, that’s for sure. I was involved in the SRU chapter of the National Mathematics Honor Society. With my extra time I played intramural football, soccer, and basketball.

What do you know now that you wish you would have known as a college student?

I can’t believe how fast it went. There are times when it was hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. If I could talk to myself back then, I would have said “enjoy the experience as much as you can because the light will come quickly.”

What advice would you give to students who are entering or are currently in the teacher preparation program?

The one thing to keep in front of you: teaching is the best profession in the world. Make sure that you keep that in the front of your mind. When you have that apprehension, just remember that you will get better. As you get better, you will be able to take on more responsibilities. People leave the all of the time, and they lose sight of how great the teaching profession is. There will always be a process to get better at any profession and teaching is no exception.