Mount Saint Mary College graduate Stefanie Sommer of Monroe, N.Y., is ready to bring her passion for math and special education to Washingtonville Senior High School this fall.
Mount Saint Mary College graduate Stefanie Sommer of Monroe, N.Y., had her path to the classroom secured long before walking across the Commencement stage.
Sommer, who studied math and special education, will be heading to Washingtonville Senior High School this fall to teach algebra and geometry. Entering the education field is the fulfillment of a lifelong passion, she explained.
“I love helping kids,” Sommer said. “I’m a swim coach also, so it’s really fulfilling for me to see children succeed, especially for math.”
Sommer’s journey through the Mount was defined by determination. While she enrolled in a 5+1 program, she managed to complete her degree in just four years.
“I came in with 36 credits from high school,” she explained, noting that she was operating at “turbo speed” from the moment she arrived on campus.
That drive quickly translated into local career opportunities. Through the Mount’s education program, Sommer secured a vital student teaching internship that began in December, which ultimately served as her audition for a full-time position.
“It’s nice to have a job secured. I’m in the same spot as my student teaching, I know all the teachers, and all the kids are really nice.”
As a dual major, Sommer will be working as a special education teacher within the math department, a role she feels uniquely prepared for thanks to the Mount's comprehensive curriculum.
“As a teacher, you’re always going to have students with disabilities in your class,” she explained. “Having a special ed background helps you be able to teach everyone.”
Beyond her academic achievements, Sommer credits the Mount’s tight-knit community and athletic programs for helping her grow as a leader. For example, she was a powerhouse on the college swim team, competing all four years and serving as team captain for three of them. She also spearheaded fundraising efforts that allowed the team to go on training trips during her junior and senior years.
“Being able to practice 6:30 to 8:30 in the morning and then having to go to school – it taught me time management and communication,” Sommer said.
Looking back at her time at Mount Saint Mary College, Sommer fondly recalls the campus culture, from bonfires to winning the Mount Olympics during her freshman, junior, and senior years. But it was the people who left the greatest impact. She called the swim team “a built-in family.”
She added, “All the education and the math faculty are great, and everyone’s there to help you.”