When Mariann Lehrian and her husband moved to Clarion County with their children, everything was new — including her next step professionally. As she began working as a substitute teacher, two things became clear. She wanted to be in the classroom, and she needed the preparation to do the work well. 

That path was close to home. 

“I was impressed by Clarion’s education program, especially the dual early childhood and special education major,” Lehrian said. “It gave me the opportunity to study close to where we live while preparing for the kind of teaching I want to do.” 

Now in her final semester, Lehrian is completing her student teaching at a local elementary school and preparing to receive her bachelor’s degree at PennWest Clarion’s May 9 commencement ceremonies. She says the program has helped her feel ready to begin her career with confidence. 

Several classroom experiences stand out as especially meaningful. 

“Dr. Amy Love’s Teaching Reading class helped me tremendously during my block and student teaching,” Lehrian said. “Having a strong foundation in phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, comprehension and the six syllable types has allowed me to teach confidently at different levels.” 

Some of the most challenging lessons proved to be the most valuable. 

“Learning to write and implement lesson plans was very difficult for me,” she said. “Dr. Jesse Haight, my block supervisor, reminded me that lesson planning comes with time and practice. After observing me, he also pointed out that I genuinely care about my students and want to help them succeed — qualities that can’t be taught. That encouragement helped me stay focused on why I chose this path.” 

Math courses brought similar reassurance and reinforced the importance of patience and support in education. 

“Math is my weakest subject,” Lehrian said. “Dr. Daniel Shifflet, Dr. Love and both Dr. McConnells (Marcy and Mike) were consistently kind and patient when I struggled. My classmates were just as generous, always willing to help. Those experiences showed me that improvement comes with practice and perseverance, and that’s something I’ll carry into my own classroom.” 

Beyond academics, Lehrian appreciated the sense of connection she found on campus, including events like Stars Over Clarion at the Peirce Planetarium. 

“I’ve received an excellent education,” she said. “I love the faculty, the campus and the community. As an adult learner, I would recommend PennWest Clarion to both traditional students and those returning to college.”