Sarah Davis, a former eighth-grade English teacher at Lakeview Middle School, has now stepped into the role of an intervention specialist at the High School. Davis has been a member of Lakeview’s staff since 2011, when she began teaching eleventh-grade English Language Arts. However, she later discovered her passion for teaching eighth-grade English Language Arts. After ten years of teaching, Davis attended Youngstown State University, where she earned her master’s degree in Special Education. She didn’t choose to accept this position until the beginning of this school year. Not only is Davis a dedicated hardworking professional, but she is also a respected member of the school’s community.
Thinking back to her 8th grade year, Junior MaKenna Doran remembers what made Davis such a special teacher, “Davis is such a great teacher because she made learning a fun challenge and she helped things click for me. I think that it is such an amazing thing to have a challenging teacher while also being able to enjoy the time spent in the classroom. Overall she made learning feel fun for us, letting us do things like watching movies, working in groups etc.”
Having a teacher who makes learning enjoyable can make school feel easier and less stressful for students. When teachers incorporate fun into their lessons, students are more likely to participate actively. Engaging learning environments encourage students to interact with the material, making them more willing to contribute to discussions and activities.
When discussing her new position at the High School, Davis stated, “I chose Special Education as I wanted to better meet the needs of all of the students in my classroom. All students learn differently, and educating myself about the ways in which students with learning disabilities learn best helped me become a better teacher.“
Employees throughout Lakeview’s staff prioritize making a positive impact on students’ lives, and Davis exemplifies this commitment. Actions like hers are what truly help students become the best versions of themselves. Davis is dedicated to understanding how to support all the students in her class, regardless of the challenges they face.
Davis discussed how her teaching style differed from working with full classes compared to smaller group of students, “As an Intervention Specialist, I provide support to my students in all content areas; therefore, I have to know the content in every class, which is challenging for me as Math and Science do not always come easily to me. I also co teach in both Pre Algebra and ELA. It is fun being able to team teach with Mr. Facciolo and Miss Muccio, but it’s different not being the person leading the instruction 100% of the time.”
This type of work requires her to be knowledgeable in all subjects, which is not easy for anyone. However, her working with math teacher Nicholas Facciolo and English teacher Jaclyn Muccio has introduced a very different teaching style now that Davis is not the sole instructor for the subject.
The principal of Lakeview High School, Lawrence Herrholtz, states, “I think that we are very lucky that we have her in the high school she has been here before but now we have her in a different position. We will see a greater growth in academic success for the students. She knows and understands what is expected in the entire grade level.”
Even though Davis is no longer at the Middle School, the High School will continue to benefit from her hard work and commitment to Lakeview’s students. She understands what is necessary to support her students in whatever they need. It is evident that Davis will continue to have a positive impact on the Lakeview Bulldogs year after year, contributing to their growth over time.
