New biology teacher under the microscope
by Kaylyn Zeff, Staff Writer
October 26 , 2010
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Thiel College graduate Jeff Zelonka received an e-mail over the summer asking him to step in as a permanent substitute for this school year. Being on the sub list from the previous year with a degree in biology and education, his decision was easy.
Zelonka replaces biology teacher Danielle Ross, who is on a one-year leave to work on her doctorate at Pitt.
Inside his classroom, Zelonka said he thinks the students are very respectful, he said his favorite thing about Leechburg is the size, describing the school environment as being “very personal.”
Outside the classroom, he coaches varsity football and junior high basketball at Apollo-Ridge, his alma mater. Zelonka said he is not worried about any bad feelings, though, since Leechburg and Apollo do not compete against each other anymore.
Zelonka said he was inspired by his high school. “The successes from my teachers made me want to teach and have an influence,” he said.
Making it though his student teaching at Commodore Perry High School, a school about the size of Leechburg, is Zelonka’s greatest achievement. “I hadn’t been pushed until then,” he said. “College wasn’t a challenge, but when I got to the other side of the desk it was a different story.”
At home, Zelonka said he relaxes by watching sports, spending time with his energetic boxer Zook and, of course, being with his wife, whom he married just this past summer on July 24.
Zelonka said his reception was at Lenape Heights Golf Course banquet room with a wedding party of 10 on both the bride’s and groom’s sides. “It was awesome. We even rented a limo bus,” Zelonka said.
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For those into Zelonka trivia, he also shared the following:
His NFL favorite is Peyton Manning – not just the Colts, since he prefers players to teams. However, Zelonka doesn’t like the Steelers; he prefers to go against the norm.
If he could, he would replace Doctor House since they share the same biting wit and sarcasm. Zelonka says sarcasm is his second language, but it’s nothing compared to House’s.
His favorite book is “Why Do Men Have Nipples?” by Dr. Mark Leyner because it “has every answer to any question you’d ever have.”
Zelonka’s biggest pet peeve occurs when people tell a story and they begin with “Me and Bob” instead of “Bob and I…” He also dislikes when people say “slippy” instead of “slippery.”
“The true measure of a man is how he treats him who can do him absolutely no good,” is his favorite quote.
And a final note: The interview concluded with the question Is there anything you wish I had asked you?
“We covered a lot,” Zelonka said, “but I wish you asked me about how my experience at Leechburg was going. I’ve really been enjoying it. It’s an awesome environment with lots of opportunity.”
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