Author: Janelle Davis

1. You do so much with writing and education. Let’s start with your role at Liverpool High School. At Liverpool High School, I work with ninth and 10th grade special needs students as a “program manager.” This means I attend classes with them and act as a sort of tutor for the group when they are not in those classes. I also work one-on-one with more severely autistic children to keep them safe and help them reach their educational goals. 2. Can you tell us about The Writer’s Life class that you teach? What can students expect and who is…

Coined as the “Copper City” during the Industrial Revolution, historic Rome is located about 49 minutes from Syracuse and is home to activities that fit all interests.Parks and Nature TrailsGRIFFISS INTERNATIONAL SCULPTURE GARDEN AND NATURE TRAILImpressive sculptures, like “Nature’s Wrath,” “Crown,” and “Freya,” maintain your interest as you walk through an extensive nature path filled with art and biodiversity.Where: 584 Phoenix Drive.More information: griffissbusinesspark.com.DELTA LAKE STATE PARKThe park is situated on a peninsula that stretches into the Delta Reservoir, and visitors can take advantage of picnic areas, nature trails, fishing, camping sites, and beaches. In the winter, you can trek…

1. What is your background and what do you teach? I have a B.S. in Communication Sciences & Disorders and an M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology. Both degrees are from Syracuse University. I am a speech therapist at the North Syracuse Early Education Program, which is part of the North Syracuse Central School District. This is an integrated program, where the classrooms contain eight children designated with special needs and eight children with no special needs. I work with children with special needs aging in the range of 3-5 years. I work collaboratively with a variety of other professionals, such as…

1. Tell us a little bit about your background and how you came to be the program coordinator for the Cancer Services Program?I’ve worked for the Onondaga County Health Department for a little over 13 years now, and have a true passion for public health. I’ve been the program coordinator for the Cancer Services Program since 2016. My job connects me with the community and brings me such joy knowing I can assist individuals of Onondaga County one resident at a time by providing such an important health screening.2. For those unfamiliar, what is the Cancer Services Program?The Cancer Services Program provides…

1. What is your background and how did you come to be the education program coordinator at the Sciencenter? My degree is in biology. I was working in conservation research when I realized that some of my favorite parts of my job were sharing the science factor I was working on. Also, my enjoyment of working with children led me to look at positions in informal science education; jobs in nature centers, museums, parks, and other places that need science interpretation. I was lucky to land a job at the Sciencenter in the education department. I’ve been working at the…

1. What is your background and how did you become the director of environmental risk assessment for the Onondaga County Health Department? I am a biology major from Cornell University. I have now worked with Environmental Health for 26 years. I started as an environmental health technician. I worked my way up through the years, working in different programs until I became director. 2. For readers who aren’t familiar with your job title, what are your day-to-day duties? I have a lot of different duties, but there are two main portions of my job, especially this time of the year.…

1. How did you come to be the lead instructor for Le Moyne College’s Summer Arts Institute musical theater camp?  I went to school for musical theater at Nazareth College in Rochester. After college, I worked as the educational coordinator at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, which is now known as The REV Theatre. I was also directing and choreographing musicals at Westhill High School. After leaving that position is when I started to work for Le Moyne in their Visual Performing Arts Department. That’s where I got my connection with Le Moyne College and the chance to meet the managing director…

1. You are the education coordinator for Redhouse Arts Center. Can you tell us more about it? Redhouse Arts Center is a non-profit organization located in downtown Syracuse that offers yearly mainstage theater productions for local audiences and a plethora of educational programming in-house and off-site at several Syracuse City School District schools as well as other non-profit organizations, in a nutshell. We strive to bring professional quality theater performances and arts education programs to the local community. Redhouse is known for its two pillars of strength: the artistic department and the education department. Both contribute equally to the success…

1. What is your educational background and where are you currently teaching? My educational background and path to get here were not traditional. I went to St. John Fisher College and got my bachelor’s degree in communications. I worked for a bank for a few years and realized that it was not my calling. So, I decided to go back to school and focus on what I always wanted to do: teach! I went back to school at Le Moyne College and received my master’s degree in childhood education and special education. I am currently certified as a regular and…

1. Can you share a little about your educational background and where you are currently teaching? I grew up in the small town of Watkins Glen on the south end of Seneca Lake in the heart of the Finger Lakes region. I always had a passion for being outdoors, growing up in the country fishing, hunting, hiking, biking, and camping. I learned fairly young that I really liked teaching earth science. I went to a community college in Corning and then transferred to Cornell University for my undergraduate degree in the Science of Earth Systems program, with a primary focus…