HS Teacher Named Employee of the Month

The following is a press relase from the Springfield Area School District.

The Springfield School District January Employee of the Month is Ruth Snyder, a Family and Consumer Science (FCS) teacher at Springfield High School. Ruth, a native of Delaware County, earned her Bachelor’s degree from Drexel University and except for a short stint in Human Resources has been an FCS teacher for her entire career. She is celebrating her 30th year at Springfield High School.

Family and Consumer Science is very different from the home economics courses of decades past. FCS education focuses on the individual, the family and the community. Making good choices, administrative functioning, nutrition and diet, relationship building, human development, connecting to the community and embracing diversity are a sampling of the topics covered. The FCS experience that Ruth facilitates includes Rainbow Junction where students plan, supervise and teach preschool children within the high school’s in-house nursery school, as well as the possibility to advance those skills through hands-on experiences in Springfield’s elementary school classrooms. Ruth is also coordinator of the high school’s Student Assistance Team (STAT). The STAT team works to connect services and provide support to at-risk students. On teaching at SHS, Ruth said, “Springfield is a great community to teach in. The students, teachers and administrators all respect each other; this fosters relationships which makes learning dynamic.”

The faculty at SHS were quick to recognize Ruth for her commitment to teaching. Susan Purvis, Health and Physical Education teacher said, “Ruth is a conscientious teacher who has her student’s best interests at heart.  She has a passion for FCS and it is reflected in the work her students produce year in and year out.” Bob Preston, retired graphic arts teacher added, “My two children went through the Rainbow Junction program facilitated by Ruth and her students. The best way to describe her is warm, caring, dedicated, and encouraging.  Ruth connects with each of her students and gives them the opportunity to experience success, not just in FCS, but in life.” Frank McKnight, SHS principal concluded by saying, “Ruth is a teacher who cares greatly about the overall wellbeing of all students. She has a great rapport with her students, many of whom become interested in careers working with children as a result of their experience in her Child Development course. For all these reasons and many more, please help us celebrate Ruth Snyder as the Springfield School District January Employee of the Month.