Chad Carlson ’24

One of the most rewarding experiences for Chad Carlson is to see his students push their boundaries, then watch them learn and grow as a result.

Carlson, a graduate of Pitt-Bradford’s health and physical education program, shapes young minds and bodies as a physical education teacher at Smethport (Pa.) Elementary School.

Carlson’s path was sparked by his own high school PE teachers who made a strong impact on his development as a young adult.

“I wanted to make a difference like my PE teachers did for me,” he said. 

That desire led Carlson to Pitt-Bradford, where he immersed himself in student-teaching opportunities. Over four years, Carlson logged nearly 400 hours of student teaching, instructing students from Pre-K to 12th grade and even tackling the unique challenges of adapted physical education for students with disabilities.

Those opportunities gave Carlson the confidence to lead a classroom and the flexibility to adapt to any situation – all critical abilities for an educator.

“Not all colleges give you this opportunity to be placed with well-experienced teachers,” said Carlson, who credits Pitt-Bradford’s extensive student-teaching opportunities for preparing him to thrive in his career.

Carlson also attributes his success to the relationships he built with his professors, particularly  Amanda Davis, visiting assistant professor of health and physical education, whom he described as “super enthusiastic and caring.”

“Professor Davis provided a ton of one-on-one mentorship that helped me reflect and better myself as an individual and as a teacher,” he said. “She is super enthusiastic and cares about everyone.”

Now in his first year at Smethport Elementary, Carlson says his transition from student to teacher was smooth and uneventful thanks to the skills and preparation he obtained at Pitt-Bradford. And just a year in, he is already seeing the impact of his work.

“Being able to see each student grow physically, mentally, or learning a skill they couldn’t do before has been so rewarding,” Carlson said, and reaffirms his love and passion for teaching.

As Carlson continues to learn and grow as a teacher, he is thankful for the opportunities he had at Pitt-Bradford that made it all possible

“Pitt-Bradford gave me a ton of opportunities to gain experience and learn how to be the best health and PE teacher possible,” he said.