Robert Scornavacco ’08 ’14, M.S. ’20, who has earned bachelor’s degrees in industrial computer and tech education and a master’s degree in STEM education from Illinois State University, was recently named the Technology Education Association of Illinois “New” Middle School Teacher of the Year.
Scornavacco has been teaching for nine years. The former high school teacher currently teaches technology education at Evans Junior High School, and covers everything from 3D modeling and 3D printing to sketching, robotics, and computer science. Scornavacco acknowledges that teaching preteens and teenagers is not without its challenges: “Sometimes when we teach them, they’re 100% engaged. Then, they go home and come back the next day, and it’s like a completely different person.” He makes it a priority to spend time with them, to try to understand their feelings, and to use the most effective teaching strategies.
The “ah-ha” moments that Scornavacco’s students experience make all of his efforts worthwhile. He wants his students to know, “It’s OK to fail. You learn a little bit more from the process that way. Students always want to get 100%, but it’s OK if your first build isn’t always your best.”
Scornavacco tells students: “Your mind is a muscle, similar to your bicep. After your failure, you can learn from your mistake, and your next build will be stronger. Practice makes perfect.”
The “Teacher of the Year” enjoys watching students grow throughout their educational careers. “When I taught them as freshmen at Normal West (High School), I thought they didn’t get it. But I saw them present to State Farm as seniors, and they told me that now they really understood what I taught them.
It’s very interesting to be able to facilitate that passion. It’s hard to just pick one memorable moment from my career. It’s the whole joy of teaching that is the best moment.”
He explained how Illinois State University impacted his career: “ISU does a very good job preparing you for your career. I decided to pursue my master’s at ISU because I was confident in the people in the Technology department.”
Scornavacco’s impact isn’t over yet. He’s currently working on a second master’s degree and is always looking for ways to better his teaching. “I want to implement a lot of new things and exciting, interesting ways to make my students enjoy my courses.” He and his colleagues will be running a collaboration with Normal Community High School, a student club called Bit by Bit, whose goal is to encourage students to learn how to code and apply this knowledge to solve real-life problems. He also runs a chapter at the junior high where the high schoolers come back to teach coding to the junior high students.
Visit the Department of Technology website to learn how you can major in technology, too!
