Scott Voytko ’07 draws parallels between Wooster’s close-knit community and his professional environment

Scott Voytko ’07 received a bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in early childhood education at The College of Wooster, preparing him for a developing career in education. He works as a principal of an elementary school that is kindergarten through fifth grade in Clermont, Florida. “My primary job is leading instruction. We do so by the way we develop the staff, interact with the community, and manage our resources,” Voytko said.

Voytko sees parallels to the close-knit environment at Wooster in the professional environment he works in today. Discussing the benefits of a smaller setting, he said, “Working and collaborating with the same classmates and faculty over several years is more in sync with the way we collaborate in a professional environment.” Through that shared environment, the College prepared Voytko not only for his work as principal but also for his time as a third-grade teacher, assistant principal, and vice principal.

During his time at the College, Voytko worked as a resident assistant and played varsity lacrosse. As a student athlete, he found that “everyone has a specific role to play in the common mission,” a realization that helps him to be an effective principal today. His field work was also an invaluable experience, where he learned the ins and outs of the education profession. “I did my field work at Apple Creek Elementary in a first-grade classroom. The community was very supportive, and I had an incredible experience. Overall, during field experience, you get the opportunity to work with a coach (lead teacher) to gain valuable experiences before taking over your own room,” he said.

Another invaluable Wooster experience for Voytko was the ability to combine his interests in a non-traditional way and partake in hands-on research during his junior and senior years. His research projects focused on history within education, and he is thankful that he was able to incorporate his professional passion into the field of history. He realized the importance of research. “Research continues to be instrumental in the education field, and not a day goes by where I don’t reference studies to make professional decisions,” he said.

Posted in Alumni on April 13, 2020.