Bristal Elaine Mcalister 

 

1. What were your Majors/Minors?
Major: Health and Physical Education
Minor: Adapted Physical Education
Master's Degree: Adapted Physical Activity (Slippery Rock University, Graduated Spring 2010)

 

2. Are you APENS certified?
Yes

 

3. How has the minor affected you?
The APE minor at WCU taught me A LOT about kids with disabilities and also a lot about myself. Not only does Doc teach about a wide variety of disabilities, you also get wonderful hands-on experiences. Without the minor, I doubt that I would have been as comfortable when placed with special needs students. I use a lot of the skills and information that I learned in the minor in my current job. The minor taught me to be more open and accepting to everyone. It also helped teach me to pay attention to my use of words and tone of voice when working with children with special needs and communicating with adults without special needs. (Thanks Doc for that constructive criticism)

 

4. Where are you now?
Fitness for Health; Rockville, MD. (Therapeutic Fitness Facility)

 

5. What are your future goals?
To continue to educate others about people with disabilities, to continue to be an advocate for those who cannot be an advocate for themselves, and to continue to give my clients the best possible opportunities that I can give them.

 

6. A quick word of advice for future adapted minors or for parents looking for an adapted PE professional.
Students: Learn as much as you can. Get as much experience as you can, with a WIDE RANGE of disabilities; do not be afraid to ask questions, and most importantly LOVE WHAT YOU DO!

 

Lauren Bontempo   

 

1. What were your Majors/Minors? I graduated with a Liberal Arts degree with minors in Nutrition and Adapted PE

2. Are you APENS certified?

I am not APENS certified- I never pursued a teaching cert while in college. I used the minor for dance camps and other sports related activities.

3. How has the minor affected you?

I met many wonderful classmates, faculty, athletes, and families during the APE minor. It taught me patience, compassion, as well as a multitude of skills on how to work with children and adults with special needs to maximize their potential. The minor showed me my true passion was working with individuals with Special Needs and I am currently pursuing a Masters' degree in Special Education at The University of South Florida, Tampa.

4. Where are you now?

Not currently employed in the field. Am hoping to return to the Philadelphia area after grad school and become a Special Education teacher.

5. What are your future goals? Get my Masters' in Special Education and certification in American Sign Language to work with students with hearing impairments.

6. A quick word of advice for future adapted minors or for parents looking for an adapted PE professional.

To future students- Day 1: you are going to be overwhelmed. You are going to think you may not know how to handle working with individuals with special needs. You will be afraid to say or do the wrong thing, and chances are, you will at least once. By day 5, you are going to think this is ALOT of work... what was I thinking? By week 5- You are going to start developing incredible bonds with other students as well as the children and adults you will be working with. By your 2nd semester- You are going to be excited to get back in the gym and see the kids from the semester before and you will realize that you make a difference in their lives, and they will make a difference in yours. Be open, ask questions, and take advantage of all of the opportunities that are presented to you through this program. I would go back in a heartbeat!!

 

Mark Young 

 

1.What were your Majors/Minors?

Major: Health and Physical Education

Minor: Adapted Physical Education

2. Are you APENS certified?

No

3. How has the minor affected you?

The minor was a terrific teaching and life experience. Not only did it help with learning different ways to differentiate instruction and modifying activities but it was extremely powerful and rewarding to see students succeed in the program.

 

4. Where are you now?

I am currently employed with the Downingtown Area School District as an Elementary Health and PE teacher.

5. What are your future goals?

I am currently going through the process of enrolling in a master’s program so that will be my main goal for the next few years.

6. A quick word of advice for future adapted minors or for parents looking for an adapted PE professional.

As far as advice for future APE minors, I would say to try and take away something from every experience. Don't be afraid to get involved with the program and to make the most of the incredible opportunities that the minor offers.

 

Bob Tierney 

 

1. What were your majors/minors?

Health and Physical Education, minor in Health Sciences and Adapted Physical Education

 

2. How has the minor affected you?

 The minor affected me because it allowed me the ability to make great friends and work with children with disabilities at the same time. I knew my heart was truly into the minor and I was making a difference in the lives of children with disabilities, when I single handedly showered and dressed four children at Camp Abilities Arizona. This minor allowed me to accomplish things I never thought possible, and share great bonds with both children and fellow students.

 

3. Where are you now?

 Right now I am a substitute teacher in the Council Rock and Neshaminy School Districts in Southeastern PA. I also work as an unpaid assistant to the Council Rock South Men's Varsity Basketball team.

 

4. What are your future goals?

One future goal I have is to become a full time Health and Physical Education educator in a suitable school district in which I am comfortable teaching in. I would like to reach out to every student by going to whatever means possible to enhance individual learning.

 

5. A quick word of advice for future adapted minors or for parents looking for an adapted PE professional: It is because of you and all your hard work that a minor for Adapted Physical Education even exists. This minor is something that has allowed me to grow as a person and really touch the lives of children. The experiences I had in the minor will stick with me forever, and it is something well worth getting involved with.

 

Justin Wright 

 

1. What were your majors/minors?

Kinesiology (Health & Physical Education), Minors in: Health & Adapted Physical Education

 

2. Are you APENS certified?

Not currently

 

3. How has the minor affected you?

 The minor provided me with the knowledge, skills, and confidence necessary to have a major impact in the educational field. The major thing that I have noticed is that the Adapted Physical Education minor provided me with overwhelming skills in the form of adapting lessons to better fit each student's individual needs.

 

4. Where are you now?

I was teaching Health & Physical Education at a Special Needs school in Manayunk until July 2009. Currently I am a 1 on 1 teacher in the West Chester School District at Fern Hill Elementary.

 

5. What are your future goals?

I plan to attend graduate school at West Chester University for Educational Counseling to become a school based counselor hopefully starting January 2010.

 

Ashley Bosak 

 

1. What were your majors/minors?

Kinesiology, Teacher Certification, Minor in Health Sciences, Minor in Adapted Physical Education

 

2. Are you APENS certified?

No

 

3. How has the minor affected you?

I was never sure that being an Adapted Minor was for me. After taking KIN 205, I knew that it was. Being an Adapted Physical Education Minor at West Chester has opened up so many opportunities for me. Traveling to Alaska to be a part of Camp Abilities is probably one of the coolest things I have ever done and I encourage everyone to make the trip.

 

4. Where are you now?

Looking for a teaching position

 

5. What are your future goals?

 To become a full time teacher eventually get my masters in Kinesiology or Sports Administration

 

6. A quick word of advice for future Adapted PE minors or parents looking for an Adapted PE professional:

Never forget why you wanted to teach. Never forget why you wanted to change the lives of children that are so often forgotten. Never forget who helped you along the way.

 

Stephanie Bush 

 

1. What were your majors/minors?

Health & Physical Education, minor in Adapted Physical Education

 

2. Are you APENS certified?

Not yet

 

3. How has the minor affected you?

Being part of the adapted minor enlightened me to all of the possibilities available for students with disabilities. Adapted Physical Education has shown me the unlimited potential our students possess, and has inspired me to never give up at helping students achieve their dreams. With the proper instruction, nurture, and support, anything is possible!

 

4. Where are you now?

Right now I am recently graduated and currently "job hunting" (as they say) and trying really hard to find a job. I plan to enjoy the summer working with students, relaxing, and vacationing.

 

5. What are your future goals?

I would love to become a teacher (health & physical education) and make a difference in my students' lives. I would love to intertwine skills learned and used in adapted physical education to successfully include ALL students, and educate others to understand that people with disabilities have the same needs and emotions as those who are non disabled.

 

6. A quick word of advice for future Adapted PE minors or parents looking for an Adapted PE professional:

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered...forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives... be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies... succeed anyway. If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you... be honest and frank anyway. What you may spend years building, someone may destroy overnight...build anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, people may be jealous...be happy anyway. The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow...do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough...give the world the best you have anyway. You see, in the final analysis, it's all between you and God...it was never between you and them anyway.

 

 

 

Megan Halberstadt  

 

1. What were your Majors/Minors?

Health and Phys Ed Major, minors in Health, Adapted PE

2. Are you APENS certified?

YES!!!

3. How has the minor affected you?

Personally, it allowed me to meet some of my best friends in college. Professionally, it allowed me to develop my skill as an educator, not just for kids with special needs, but for every type of student. I have able to use the things I learned from Dr. Lepore and my colleagues, about how to communicate and interact with people pretty much every day since I've graduated

4. Where are you now?

Central Bucks Family YMCA - Ability Programs Specialist

5. What are your future goals?

Get my masters in Sports Administration and develop a program that encourages young athletes with disabilities to participate in interscholastic athletics.

6. A quick word of advice for future adapted minors or for parents looking for an adapted PE professional.

Don't be afraid to reach out to a contact. Most programming for students with special needs outside of the school setting grows and develops though word of mouth from parents who have had positive experiences. Look at all of your options!

Hope this helps! Also, I graduated in 2009!

 

Sara Burke 

 

1.What were your majors/minors?

Health and Physical Education / Adapted P.E.

 

2.Are you APENS certified?

No, I am not APENS certified.

 

3.How has the minor affected you?

The adapted minor has positively affected me in many ways. Essentially, it changed my entire life. It taught me that children with disabilities can do many of the things children without disabilities can do; it might just take them longer and they may need assistance or adaptive equipment. Further, children with disabilities are like all children in that they want friends, respect, and to be included (especially in physical activity!) While the stress and workload can be overwhelming at times, being able to make a difference in the life of a child with disabilities is certainly worth it in the end. Dr. Lepore and my classmates have been an inspiration to everyone; we’ve worked our hardest in helping these children believe they have ABILITIES instead of DISABILITIES.

 

4.Where are you now?

I am working at a children’s psychiatric hospital as a mental health technician. The children admitted range from ages 3-21, and are diagnosed with mental, emotional, physical and/or social disorders. I am also in the midst of receiving a M.Ed. from Lehigh University in Secondary School Counseling.

 

5.What are your future goals?

 A Health and PE teacher, an Adapted PE teacher, or a Secondary School Counselor: I will be grateful for whichever comes first!

 

6. A quick word of advice for future adapted minors or for parents looking for an adapted PE professional.

 It’s a rewarding journey where you will gain more knowledge & experience than you’ll ever realize. Be polite & always remember to keep a positive attitude… because negative attitudes and actions can negatively affect others. Don’t take anything for granted and be prepared to have endless patience. Your goal WILL be achieved! Oh, and don’t forget to smile! You can make a difference.

 

Beverly Schmitz 

 

1.What were your Majors/Minors?

Major: Health and PE teacher cert.

Minors: Adapted PE and Coaching

 

2. Are you APENS certified?

Not APENS certified

 

3. How has the minor affected you?

The minor has positively affected me by helping me find my previous and current teaching positions both as an Adapted Physical Education teacher. It has allowed me to find new and creative ways to reach a wide range of student abilities in multiple settings. Gaining the experience from the APE minor has helped me create and build my own Adapted PE program at my current job.

 

4. Where are you now?

I am currently teaching at The Maryland School for the Blind as one of the Adapted Physical Education teachers. I also teach Health and coach athletic teams, including goal ball.

 

5. What are your future goals?

 In the future I would like to teach in Pennsylvania.

 

6.  A quick word of advice for future adapted minors or for parents looking for an adapted PE professional.

Advice for minors: Even though it is a lot of tough work and requires dedication, it all pays off once you find a job and see a student learn or improve on a skill/concept they struggled with. Keep in touch with your classmates and professors - they are the best resources you can have!

 

Matt Marhevka 

 

1. What were your majors/minors?

BS Health & Physical Education, Minors in Health Sciences & Adapted Physical Education

 

2. Are you APENS Certified?

Yes, January 2010

 

3. How has the minor affected you?

The minor affected me in more ways than I can count. It WAS the only thing at the time at WCU that affected me the most. First and foremost the minor taught me that differently-abled people are not disabled. That every student can succeed when given the correct accommodations and modifications. It provided me with hands on learning and experiences with teaching students with disabilities. Overall, it made me a better teacher for students with and without disabilities. The friendships I was able to make through the minor will be everlasting. Lastly, though my experiences and certifications it made me a much more marketable candidate for jobs.

 

4. Where are you now?

I am currently a full time Health & Physical Education teacher at Ore Valley Elementary in the Dallastown Area School District.

 

5. What are your future goals? 

I want to continue to work with and teach students with disabilities. I want to continue my education and obtain my master's degree.

 

6. A quick word of advice for future adapted minors or for parents looking for an adapted PE professional. 

One final thought, though the minor can be a lot of work at times, it is worth every minute you spend with it. If it was easy, everyone would do it. It will teach you to become a better overall Health and Physical Education teacher. You will join into a family where there will always be someone to help you with anything you may ever need. And most importantly, you will positively impact students' lives in more ways than you will ever know.