Academics > Majors and Areas of Study > Education > Faculty

Connie Reinhart, M.Ed. - Department Chair

Professor Connie Reinhart is currently the Department Chair and Associate Professor at Thiel College. Professor Reinhart received her M.Ed. and B.S. degrees from Edinboro University and Public School Administration Certification from the University of Alaska. She also has extensive post graduate course work. Professor Reinhart is a former elementary school classroom teacher, Demonstration teacher, teacher of gifted students, teacher trainer, assistant principal and principal. She has been an educator in the states of Florida, Pennsylvania and Alaska. Professor Reinhart has extensive training in meeting the needs of gifted children, ESL, multiculturalism and safe school initiatives. She has presented at state and national education conferences. Professor Reinhart has been published in educational magazines and was highlighted as an outstanding educator in a television documentary used as a training video for Alaska schools. She has received several awards for her dedication and passion to the field of education. Professor Reinhart is also the recipient of Thiel's 2009 Distinguished Teacher of the Year Award and her biography appears in the 2010 Edition of Marquis Who's Who.

Toni Mild, M.Ed. - Director of Teacher Education

Professor Mild is currently the Director of Teacher Education within the Education Department at Thiel College. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary and Special Education from Clarion University of Pennsylvania in 1995. She received her Master’s Degree in Education and Special Education Supervisor Certificate from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania in 2000. Professor Mild is a former Middle School Title I Teacher, Emotional Support Teacher, Learning Support Teacher and Special Education Supervisor for Districts in both Mercer and Lawrence Counties. She is currently a doctorial candidate at Capella University focusing on Educational Leadership.

Douglas R. Hazlett, Ph.D. - Associate Professor

Dr. Hazlett is currently an Associate Professor at Thiel College. Dr. Hazlett is also an adjunct professor in the graduate program at Gannon University in Erie, Pa. and an adjunct with the Butler County Community College at Lindenpointe. Dr. Hazlett received his Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Kent State University and M.Ed. and B.M. degrees from Westminster College.

During the 1980s, Dr. Hazlett was a high school music instructor in Ohio where his bands consistently competed in State Marching and Concert Band Finals including receiving perfect scores his final year of teaching at State Concert Band finals. Dr. Hazlett's music students went on to be award winning band directors themselves as well as receive music scholarships and perform with world champion drum corps. During this time, Dr. Hazlett was also an adjunct music instructor for percussion studies at Westminster College, as well as a contest judge for the Ohio Music Education Association.

Dr. Hazlett's career continued as an assistant high school principal, middle school principal, curriculum director and assistant superintendent. He has received recognition as a PDE Distinguished Educator and recipient of PASCD's 2001 Supervision and Curriculum Development Award. Dr. Hazlett has presented at the National Staff Development Conference, Pennsylvania Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development State Conference, and the Pennsylvania State Title I Conference. He successfully completed training as a facilitator for the Pennsylvania Inspired Leadership Grow and Support training for school administrators. Through a contract with the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Dr. Hazlett mentors first year principals in the region. Dr. Hazlett is a published author and serves as a manuscript reviewer for Pennsylvania Educational Leadership.

Dr. Hazlett is active on the campus of Thiel College and serves on many committees. His community service has included serving on the Shenango Valley Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Mercer County Children and Youth Services Advisory Board, Sharon Regional Hospital Behavioral Health Services Advisory Board, Sharpsville/South Pymatuning/Clark Community Affairs Committee and others. Currently Dr. Hazlett is serving as a member of the West Middlesex Area School District School Board and the Mercer County Career Center Board.

Recent Articles:
Hazlett, Dr. Douglas R. "Reflections on the Principal Mentor and Mentee Relationship." The Pennsylvania Administrator Sept. 2008: 14-16.

Mary Reames, M.Ed. - Lecturer of Education

Professor Reames is currently a Lecturer at Thiel College and adjunct professor at Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pa. Professor Reames received her B.A. as well as her M.Ed. from Westminster College. She is a former elementary teacher, reading specialist, elementary principal and curriculum coordinator. She was a finalist for Principal of the Year in the state of PA in 1999. Along with Professor Shaffer, Professor Reames was a member of a national consortium sponsored by the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development for thinking skills. As a part of this consortium, Professor Reames and Professor Shaffer worked with many of the leading educational researchers in the United States.

David Shaffer, M.Ed. - Lecturer of Education

Professor Shaffer is currently a Lecturer at Thiel College. Professor Shaffer has earned Master's Degrees in Secondary Education and School Administration from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and Westminster College, respectively. Professor Shaffer is a former teacher, assistant high school principal, high school principal and superintendent of schools. Currently, he and Professor Reames serve as educational consultants and provide training for teachers and administrators for several school districts. Professor Shaffer and Professor Reames have extensive experience with the research on effective schools and the teaching and learning process.

Nancy Bires, M.Ed. - Adjunct Professor

Nancy Bires is an adjunct professor in the Education Department at Thiel College. Professor Bires earned her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education and Biology at Grove City College and received her Master's Degree from Clarion University of PA in Science and Environmental Education. She is the K-8 Gifted Support Teacher in the Hermitage School District and has been in that position for 25 years. She is also an instructor for Carnegie Mellon University's C-MITES Program. Previous positions include being a science teacher, an adjunct professor at Westminster College, zoo educator, program director for a planetarium, director of Children's Science Playshops and an environmental educator at a nature center. Her expertise is in the area of elementary science and environmental education. She is currently a doctoral candidate in Curriculum and Instruction at Indiana University of Pennsylvania focusing on science and environmental education.

David S. Spalding, M.Ed. - Adjunct Professor

Professor Spalding is currently an Adjunct Professor and the Special Education Administrator at Laurel School District (New Castle, Pennsylvania). He received his B.S. Degree from Cincinnati Christian University and M.A. from the University of Akron. He has worked as a School Psychologist in Pennsylvania and Ohio and holds K-12 principal certification. Prof. Spalding has led and contributed to several local, regional and state-level initiatives including best practices in reading, classroom management, School-based Mental Health services and School-wide Positive Behavioral Support.

Angela Virostick, M.Ed. - Adjunct Professor

Professor Virostick is currently an Adjunct Professor and a Supervisor of Student Teachers at Thiel College. Professor Virostick received her B.S. Degree from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and her M.A. from Marygrove College in Detroit, Mich. She is a former elementary teacher, math supervisor, instructional associate and staff developer for the Sharon City School District of which she was employed for thirty-five years. As an instructional associate she received training in Reading and Writing Workshop from Columbia University Teachers College. She also received training as a Conceptual Mathematics Coach and studied District Design and Research from The Institute for Learning at the University of Pittsburgh. Professor Virostick is an active member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, a professional honor society of women educators.

Pam Slatcoff, M.Ed. - Adjunct Professor

Professor Slatcoff is currently an Adjunct Professor in the Education department at Thiel College. Professor Slatcoff received her B.S. degree from Edinboro State University, a M.A. in History from Slippery Rock University and a M.Ed from Youngstown State University.  She has extensive experience teaching on the secondary, middle school and elementary levels at Lakeview School District for 34 years.  Professor Slatcoff was an elementary principal for 8 years and served as District Special Education Supervisor for the Commodore Perry School District.  She was the team leader when the Commodore Perry School District was awarded and recognized at the National Title I Conference in Washington, D.C. as a Distinguished School for its innovation in helping disadvantaged students achieve in the academic core areas.  State assessment scores improved dramatically as a result of the reading changes and research-based practices introduced and implemented during her administrative career.  Professor Slatcoff is currently involved in mentoring other school administrators through the Pennsylvania Principal Mentoring Program, as well as working as a volunteer with the Early Childhood Initiative Program of Mercer County.

Kateri Linn, M.Ed. - Education PDE Coordinator

Mrs. Linn is the Education Pennsylvania Department of Education Coordinator at Thiel College.  Mrs. Linn received her B.S. degree from Slippery Rock University and her M.Ed from Youngstown State University.  She has previously worked in Career Services and more recently as an Academic Advisor and Career Counselor. Mrs. Linn has attended many trainings and conferences on working with Exploratory students and advising techniques for college students.  She is currently pursuing a Certificate from Cornell in HR Practices.

Kate Tyson, M.Ed. - Adjunct Professor

Professor Tyson is an adjunct professor at Thiel College. Mrs. Tyson received her B.A. in English from Thiel College in 2006 and her Master of Education: Curriculum and Instruction from Walden University in 2008. She is currently a high school English teacher, newspaper advisor, and coach in the Reynolds Area School District. She has been named a Keystones Technology Integrator by the state of Pennsylvania for exemplary integration of technology in the practice of teaching; in addition to this, Mrs. Tyson has both attended and presented in workshops on a wide range of subjects including writing in the classroom and performance assessment.