State College Area School District Education Foundation

Delta Middle School's "Hamilton" Class

As a Tuesday morning rolled along, a couple of Delta Middle hallways bustled with activity.

In one spot, a teacher and a student reviewed a research project about British colonization since the 18th century. Nearby, a troop of girls worked out dance steps, and around the corner from them, two classmates hunched over a laptop fine-tuning a video presentation. Meanwhile, a rehearsing singer’s voice warbled from the adjacent auditorium.

It may have looked like different classes, but it was just one — an innovative creation by teachers Leah Mueller and Paul McCormick.

Maria Terneus-Hayes Brings a Global Perspective to the Classroom

For Maria Terneus-Hayes, education was always an important part of her upbringing and life. Since as far back as she can remember, she has always wanted to be a teacher. “I was inspired by my third-grade teacher in Ecuador and by my English literature teacher in high school,” she says. “They were my role models.”

Mark Johnson ’96 Brings Talents to the Local Food Scene

Mark Johnson’s experience at State High was filled with a broad range of interests and learning alongside many childhood friends. From baseball to bass guitar, skateboarding to backpacking, and a senior year spent on the State High Enviro-thon Team, Johnson’s wide array of extracurriculars transferred nicely into his later college and career choices. Through all of it, he says he learned the importance of good communication and problem-solving skills, which would help him out later in life.

Delta Middle School's "Hamilton" Class

Maria Terneus-Hayes Brings a Global Perspective to the Classroom

Mark Johnson ’96 Brings Talents to the Local Food Scene

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