2008 Woodie Awards
Get to Know Professor Cassidy
Amanda Bertram
Issue date: 10/5/05 Section: Professors
I recently caught up with Professor Theresa Cassidy. Professor Cassidy joined the Teacher Education program at Utica College in August of 2005. A New Jersey native, Professor Cassidy spent a large portion of her life on the west coast. We sat down and talked about life and, sadly, the lack of White Castle's back on the east coast.
Amanda Bertram: Tell me a little bit about yourself.
Professor Cassidy: I moved here from the Portland, Oregon area. I spent 32 and a half years in public school teaching and administration. I was born in New Jersey and started teaching there then moved to Montana, then to Oregon, then to Washington, then back to Oregon. Now I'm in Utica. When I finished public teaching I wanted to teach the next generation of teachers, plus all my family is on the east coast.
AB: What's the biggest change coming to Utica from the west coast?
TC: Wow. What isn't a change? It's a completely different environment. I'm used to being around school-aged students. Utica College is a private college versus a public school system where you have to answer to taxpayers. It's a totally different atmosphere. I've never taught a university class, so that was a change and of course the east coast and the west coast are quite contrasting.
AB: So, is this a more relaxed environment?
TC: Absolutely. There are less external pressures. I'm not under a magnifying glass. It's a different kind of pressure.
AB: Being a public school teacher for 32 years and now working in higher education, what would you say is the biggest issue facing education in the U.S.?
TC: The lack of resources along with the federal government's intrusion in the local school's government.
AB: What would you like to instill in the next generation of teachers?
TC: What's occurring in our country is a lack of community in the younger generation. That along with building character and compassion in children is essential. While it's important to teach disciplines, we need to emphasize building character.
Amanda Bertram: Tell me a little bit about yourself.
Professor Cassidy: I moved here from the Portland, Oregon area. I spent 32 and a half years in public school teaching and administration. I was born in New Jersey and started teaching there then moved to Montana, then to Oregon, then to Washington, then back to Oregon. Now I'm in Utica. When I finished public teaching I wanted to teach the next generation of teachers, plus all my family is on the east coast.
AB: What's the biggest change coming to Utica from the west coast?
TC: Wow. What isn't a change? It's a completely different environment. I'm used to being around school-aged students. Utica College is a private college versus a public school system where you have to answer to taxpayers. It's a totally different atmosphere. I've never taught a university class, so that was a change and of course the east coast and the west coast are quite contrasting.
AB: So, is this a more relaxed environment?
TC: Absolutely. There are less external pressures. I'm not under a magnifying glass. It's a different kind of pressure.
AB: Being a public school teacher for 32 years and now working in higher education, what would you say is the biggest issue facing education in the U.S.?
TC: The lack of resources along with the federal government's intrusion in the local school's government.
AB: What would you like to instill in the next generation of teachers?
TC: What's occurring in our country is a lack of community in the younger generation. That along with building character and compassion in children is essential. While it's important to teach disciplines, we need to emphasize building character.