| Contact |
Alumni Engagement
|
|---|
Jeffrey Stephens ’15, ’19G arrived at Salem State with an interest in communications and journalism, but his time on campus ultimately led him in a very different direction. “Salem State was the only four-year school I applied to,” he said. “At the time, I thought journalism was what I wanted to do, especially in sports.”
A few years into his studies, he realized the path no longer felt right. After taking a semester away to reflect, he returned determined to find a program that truly matched his interests and values. He switched into the education program with the goal of becoming an athletic director, hoping to stay connected to sports while working in schools. “I knew I wanted to be in education,” he said. “I just didn’t know yet what that would look like.”
The Moment Everything Clicked
While enrolled in the education program, Stephens had the opportunity to sit in on a physical education class through Salem State. That experience changed everything. “I remember sitting in that class and thinking, this is it,” he said. “I walked out knowing that was what I wanted to do.”
When he shared the realization with Dr. Ann Marie Gallo, sport and movement science professor, their conversation helped define his path. “I told her I wanted to be a gym teacher,” Stephens said. “She replied, ‘No, we’re not gym teachers. We are physical education teachers’, and that really stuck with me.” That moment led him to the Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) program and marked the beginning of a lasting mentorship.
Faculty Mentorship and Student Leadership
Once in the PETE program, Stephens found a strong support system in faculty mentors including Dr. Gallo, Dr. Jennifer El-Sherif and Dr. John Passarini. “Dr. Gallo and Dr. El-Sherif always had my best interest in mind and put me in situations where I could be successful if I put the work in,” he said. “They had a lot of pride in the program, and that made you want to represent it well.”
As he progressed through his studies, Stephens took on leadership opportunities, including serving as president of the Phi Epsilon Kappa, the national honor society for sport and movement science. Balancing that role alongside coursework and fieldwork strengthened skills he continues to use today. “It taught me how to manage my time, communicate expectations and delegate responsibilities,” he said. “Those lessons have carried over directly into my career.”
As part of his program, Stephens completed his student teaching in Andover Public Schools, where he built strong professional relationships and gained hands-on classroom experience. Working alongside mentors at different stages of their careers gave him a realistic view of the profession. “You don’t really learn how to teach until you live the day,” he said. “Student teaching shows you how a school really functions and how you find your own identity and teaching style in the classroom.”
When Learning Became Teaching
After completing his undergraduate degree and student teaching at Salem State, Stephens was hired by Andover Public Schools, returning to the district where his teaching career first began.
“I made great connections in Andover during my time student teaching,” he said. “It felt like a place where people really valued education and supported one another.” While establishing himself in the classroom, Stephens continued his education, completing his graduate degree from Salem State in 2019 as a working teacher.
Now in his 11th year with the district, Stephens is an elementary physical education teacher at both West Elementary School and Bancroft Elementary School. He works with a wide range of students, including those in the Bridge Program, which supports children with disabilities. “Teaching adapted physical education positively pushes you,” he said. “You are constantly adjusting to meet students where they are.”
Balancing small-group instruction with full-class teaching has strengthened his approach as an educator. “It forces you to be intentional,” he said. “Every student needs something different, and you have to be ready for that.”
Staying Connected and Giving Back
Stephens has remained closely connected to Salem State since graduating. He has returned as a guest lecturer, speaking with student teachers about classroom management, technology and the realities of the first year in the profession. He has also hosted Salem State student teachers in his own classroom, offering them hands-on experience that shaped his own career.
Reflecting on his early years of teaching inspired him to create a Survival Guide for First Year Teachers, which is now used in Salem State’s student teaching practicum courses. The guide focuses on both professional expectations and personal well-being. “I thought about what I needed to hear when I was starting out,” he said. “It is about taking care of yourself, staying organized and remembering why you wanted to teach in the first place.”
For Stephens, being part of the Viking community today means paying those experiences forward. “I stay involved because Salem State invested in me,” he said. “I want future teachers to benefit from the same guidance and encouragement I received.” He credits the university with helping him find both his career path and network that continues to shape his work today. “The relationships you build at Salem State are what stay with you,” he said. “That is what made the difference for me.”