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Please join us in congratulating
Mr. Jerome Conlon for being
selected as the
2009 Educator of the Year
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Mr. Jerome Conlon, a Special Education Teacher at Central High School, has been named by the Spring Cove Educational Foundation as the 2009 Educator of the Year. A 33-year teaching veteran, Mr. Conlon was nominated for the award by Mrs. Barb Black, Head Cook at Central High School. Mrs. Black stated in her nomination that she has watched Mr. Conlon interact with his students over the years and “can’t help but admire the way he has taught them, nurtured them and befriended them. He handles them with love and respect. You can see that they respect and love him in return.”
Mr. Conlon is a 1972 graduate of Central High School, and graduated from Lock Haven State College in 1972 with a degree in Elementary and Special Education. He began a teaching assignment with the Appalachia Intermediate Unit 8 in 1976 at Taylor Elementary School teaching Intermediate EMR students. Mr. Conlon continued his education by attending Shippensburg State College from 1976 until 1979, graduating with a Master’s Degree in Special Education. In 1983, he began to teach Special Education at Central High School. In 1990, Mr. Conlon became an employee of Spring Cove School District when the district assumed responsibility of many special services from IU 8. He continues to teach Learning Support students from grades 9 through 12 at Central High School. Unfortunately for the district, Mr. Conlon is retiring from teaching at the close of the 2008/09 school year. In addition to teaching, coaching sports has been a major part of Mr. Conlon’s life. In addition to coaching football, wrestling, and cross country, Mr. Conlon has spent the last 30 years coaching Track & Field. He has also served as a PIAA official in Volleyball and Track & Field.
Mr. Conlon noted that his influence to become a teacher came from his family. His father, Mr. Joseph Conlon was a teacher and coach at Roaring Spring High School and Central High School for 42 years. His mother, Dorothy, a homemaker, impressed upon her children the importance of education. His brothers and his sister are all teachers. His wife, the former Patrice Wight, is an Elementary/Special Education teacher.
“It just seemed to be a very important career – one which I felt strongly should become my occupation. In teaching, I recognize an opportunity to influence people, to hopefully educate and affect their lives in a positive manner. Helping students to become contributing members of society, life long learners, not afraid to face challenges, no matter the level of difficulty, has always been a goal of teachers.”
One of the biggest rewards in teaching, for me, is to find out about the achievements of former students and athletes. It is fascinating to discover what post secondary schools they may attend or have graduated from and what careers they have pursued. It is gratifying to learn that each one had some kind of success and to know that a teacher or coach was partially responsible for that success. As in any job, disappointments occur which test a teacher’s resolve. Perseverance and the knowledge of doing a good job in the classroom have always helped me through the down times.
Former educators, administrators and the dedicated teachers I work with each day give me a sense of hope. The patience and expertise of these people are needed to successfully graduate our students into the world of tomorrow. They have taught me over the years that education is just not an academic “thing.” It encompasses emotional, social and physical aspects of learning. The teachers I work with are facilitators of learning, and I am pleased to be associated with these quality individuals.”
Mr. Conlon and his wife, Patrice, reside in Roaring Spring. They have four children: Matthew, serving with the Peace Corp in Bulgaria; Tara, an Art Teacher at Portage High School; Katharine, a teller with Citizens Bank; and Quinn, a senior at Central High School.