The Many Facets of Alumni Volunteering

Elizabeth Shotwell '02/'08M felt prepared academically when she entered the teaching profession. What she didn't know, however, was how to pace herself, how to be confident in her abilities, and trust in her colleagues.

"I wish I had known that it's completely normal to feel both excited and overwhelmed, and that those feelings don't mean you're unprepared; they mean you care," said Shotwell. "Early in my career, I put a lot of pressure on myself to get everything right. The most valuable lesson I eventually learned was to let myself be coached and supported."

Now the Director of Curriculum and Instruction at the Berwick Area School District (BASD), Shotwell became an employer partner with Commonwealth University as a recruiter. What she found, however, was a multi-faceted relationship with her alma mater that has allowed her to strengthen her profession, build a pipeline of talent to BASD, and help students align their goals to the opportunities available. She was invited to represent the Berwick Area School District at Commonwealth University's Aspiring Educators Conference and Collaborating to Assist Teacher Candidate Hiring (CATCH) Conference to share her experiences as an educator in the public school system.

"I see early engagement with preservice educators as one of the most meaningful strategies we have to strengthen the teacher pipeline and support future workforce needs," explained Shotwell. "Serving in this role allows me to contribute to a profession I care deeply about while helping to shape opportunities for the next generation of teachers. It has become a mutually beneficial partnership that supports both the university and our district's long-term goals.

In fact, her most memorable experiences have been witnessing students gain confidence in real classroom situations and build relationships with their students – putting them in a position to transform their field experiences into full time employment with the district.

"Watching them build relationships with students, take instructional risks, and see themselves as capable future educators is incredibly rewarding," recalled Shotwell. "Those moments affirm why this partnership matters and how powerful authentic connections can be for both students and schools."

The students Shotwell met at the Aspiring Educators Conference made an impression with their ability to make connections between their academic coursework and their real-world experiences.

"They were engaged, thoughtful, and genuinely curious about the profession - asking questions that reflected a developing but authentic educator mindset," said Shotwell. "Overall, the combination of student enthusiasm and the event's intentional structure left me optimistic about the future of the teaching profession.

Because of the structure of the event, the student's engagement, and her experience with Commonwealth students as student teachers and interns in the Berwick School District, Shotwell highly encourages other employer partners to make a meaningful contribution to the teaching profession by investing in the experiences of preservice teachers.

"You not only help students build confidence and clarity about their career path, but you also gain early insight into emerging talent that could one day strengthen your own organization. The relationships formed through these partnerships are genuine, and the impact stretches far beyond a single event. I've found the experience energizing.

Do you have advice and professional wisdom to give to fellow Huskies just starting out? Let us know!