Teachers do more than educate children about math, history, English, foreign language, and science. They act as role models for young students by teaching life lessons and common manners. Most people know that teaching can be a tough job. Gaining respect from teenagers, managing young children, and getting pupils to understand lessons is not as easy as it may seem at times. Not everyone is built for the teaching profession, and some people find out later in their careers that they are suited for the job. A few teachers at RMA ventured into different fields before becoming the amazing educators that they are today. Discover some of the previous jobs of RMA faculty below!

Mr. Leonard

I had several jobs before I landed here at RMA.  For the past 20 years, my jobs have been music related, from performing with bands to teaching private lessons and lots of little things in between.  Before the music thing, I had jobs as a lifeguard, bartender, and chauffeur.  So I have plenty of stories, but there is one in particular that stands out.

I worked as a chauffeur for Wolf Trap Performing Arts Center the summer I turned 19.  My friend Steve’s dad was the chief of operations for Wolf Trap and invited a few of us to work there.  My main job was driving artists to and from shows.  This one afternoon I was picking up Anne Murray from the airport and was supposed to bring her by the hotel before the show.  She was traveling with her 10 year old son and they wanted to do some shopping before going to the hotel, so I dropped them off at the mall for about an hour or so.  

A little while later my pager went off (this was before cell phones) and it was the office.  When I called them back, my boss was yelling at me because Anne Murray had not checked into the hotel.  I don’t know if he thought I had kidnapped her or what but he was pretty angry that I just dropped them off by themselves.  When Anne and her son got back in the car, I told them about the phone call.  She assured me that everything was alright because she was the one that made the shopping decision.

I got them to the hotel, then off to the show.  When we got to the arena, Anne’s son asked if I would like to watch the show with him.  So I watched the entire show with her son from the wings off stage right.  Definitely the best seat in the house.

Dr. Koszelak

Yes I am a Podiatrist, hence the Doctor in Dr. K.  My practice (Coastal Plain Podiatry) was open from 1987-2004.  I had two offices – one on Sunset Avenue across from what is now SAM’s and the other one in Roanoke Rapids.  The vast majority of my patients were elderly, but I treated patients of all ages.  I loved the interaction with my patients, but dealing with insurance issues was another story.  I was lucky enough to have a variety of interesting patients.  So interesting that I had a few who I would schedule an hour before normal business hours just so I would have time to talk to them and hear about their interesting lives.  From the 102 year-old lovely patient from Weldon, to my 100 year young patient whose motto was “make a new friend every day” and who worked delivering “Meals on Wheels” to the elderly until just before she died.  From the bigger than life mover and shaker in RM Republican Party politics/CEO of Hardees who arrived on his Harley, to the incredibly gifted physicist who was part of the Manhattan Project and who taught Richard Feynman how to pick locks.  Their stories had me riveted to my seat.  There was never a “typical day at the office”.  

    In 2001, I was asked if I would be interested in teaching one class in Life Science at RMA.  It was something new and I decided to give it a try.  I fell in love with teaching and closed my office a couple years later so I could teach full time.  I’ve been teaching at RMA since then, but it doesn’t feel like a job.  When you wake up in the morning and are excited to get to “work”, then I think you’ve stumbled on your true place in life.  I’m happier than any one person has a right to be.

Mr. Stancavish

What did the average day of your job entail? Before I became a teacher, I worked for 15 years in journalism. I started as a reporter at a weekly newspaper and ended up at Bloomberg News, covering technology and telecommunications companies like IBM and AT&T. In between I worked at two daily newspapers, one in eastern Pennsylvania, the other in northeastern New Jersey. There is no “average” day when you are a reporter. Everyday there is a new story to cover, whether it be a crime, a natural disaster, a political campaign, or a corporate takeover. Like teaching, no two days are the same.

What was the coolest/weirdest/funniest story from your old job? A friend and I once wrote a story about a little old lady who embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from the travel agency where she worked. This woman looked like the LAST person you would ever suspect to be a criminal. It was wild. After the story ran, she was arrested and put in jail!

What made you switch to teaching? Once I was asked to come and speak to some high school students about a career in journalism. Afterwards, the teacher came up to me and said, “You’re a natural!” That’s when I knew I a calling to become a teacher. That and my ongoing personal campaign to make history and economics as interesting as I can for young people. These are important and fascinating topics and kids need to know as much about them as possible!

How long have you been at RMA? I have been at RMA for 10 years!

Dr. Wells

1) I was a soldier in the Army

2) Everyday was interesting.  When I was younger, there was an Army slogan, ” We do more before 6 am than some people do all day.”  They weren’t kidding.  

3) I walked into a recruiting office…Let’s just say they handled the rest

4) I was ready for a change from the military and wanted another job where service was the focus.  Teaching seemed to fit so I gave it a try.  I’m still “trying” it over 15 years later.  I plan on deciding if I like it real soon now…