By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

The “Coaches in the Classroom” feature is a weekly series that spotlights and celebrates coaches throughout Portage County, who spend their days in the classrooms and hallways leading today’s student-athletes to be tomorrow’s leaders.

Today’s spotlight is on Ravenna High School’s Sara Haldi, who is the Mathematics department head and high school volleyball coach.

• How long have you been employed at Ravenna: 16 years overall and ninth year at the high school.
• Classes taught?: Algebra 1, Fundamental Algebra A, Algebra 2, Honors Algebra 2, Modeling and Quantitative Reasoning, Geometry.
• What made you want to become an educator?: I always wanted to do something in math and thought I would follow in the steps of my dad and grandpa and go into accounting. However, during my freshman year of high school at St. Peter Chanel in Bedford, my 3-year-old cousin was diagnosed with cancer. This led to my high school math teacher going above and beyond to help me in an extremely challenging time in my life. She would pray for my cousin at the beginning of every class and would always check to see how he was doing. During that summer, she went on a family vacation and was still thinking of my cousin and had gone to a church that was supposed to have healing powers. She sent a letter and a blessed cloth to me that summer for my cousin. As a high schooler, I knew this was not something she had to do, but rather that it showed how much she cared for her students and they were going through. After losing my cousin to cancer and everything that Mrs. McElhaney did for me during that time, I realized that I wanted to be able to help students the way that I was helped. So I switched gears and instead of becoming an accountant, I decided to teach. Every year I hope to help my students both in the classroom, but also in their lives. I want them to realize that teachers don’t just teach a subject, but truly care about them and their well being. If I can do that for just one student, then I feel like I have accomplished my goal.
• What is your favorite part of your job?: My favorite part is helping students realize they can have success in Math and in life. So many students struggle and shut down at times, but being able to help them get that “A-ha” moment is rewarding.
• What have you learned about being an educator that you didn’t know before you started?: I have learned a lot about trauma and the effects in the classroom. I always knew it existed, but being able to help a student work through it and overcome its setbacks in my room and building, and in life, is an accomplishment that helps the student for their future.
• Which teachers influenced you to go into education?: My freshman math teacher Jen McElhaney is the teacher who originally inspired me, along with Dr. Norris at John Carroll University, who was my Math Advisor and biggest supporter.
• How do you apply some of your coaching to the classroom?: In the classroom, my expectation of respect, encouragement, communication and discipline of wanting to achieve at your highest accomplishments are always present.
• How do you apply some of your classroom to your coaching?: The same rules from above are also my court rules. If an athlete or a student is pushing themselves and holding themselves accountable, they are able to achieve their highest results both as a team on the court and a student in the classroom.
• Funniest thing that has ever happened to you in a classroom?: While teaching at Ravenna, I had a student hide under my desk between hall exchange and while they thought I had seen them, I did not. I jumped and screamed when suddenly I saw movement. I had no idea at the time what it was. Myself and the entire class were laughing so hard we were crying.
• Mentors in your building who have helped you along the way?: Carla Domozick, Lisa Crislip, Janet Rosinski, Renee Donofrio, Beth Coleman.