In the Spotlight: Stern Center Instructor, Sandy Boyer

by Sandy Boyer

Stern Center alum gearing up to graduate from college with a education degree.

One of the benefits of being a Stern Center instructor is that, unlike teachers in a school system, I will oftentimes begin with a student who is just learning to read in first or second grade, and remain with that student through middle school, and in unique cases, all the way through high school. 

I had a visit this morning from one of my former students, Owen Hartman, who studied with me from second grade through junior high school to overcome struggles resulting from dyslexia. By the time he reached high school he no longer needed additional Stern Center support, and his learning challenges did not in any way slow his path towards college. 

Owen is now nearing the end of college and will student teach next fall in a first grade classroom to complete his major in education. He has aspirations to continue on to a Master's level and is considering a focus in special education. I was so happy to hear he had chosen this path because as a teacher he will inspire young students with his kindness, understanding, patience and pleasant sense of humor.

A project assigned in one of Owen’s college classes required him to interview a person or educator who made a difference in his life and who influenced his decision to become a teacher. I was flattered that first, he would request my time to talk about how I became a teacher and why, and second, that he had to make a three-hour round trip to do so in an early spring snow squall. It was such a treat to not only see this extraordinary young person after several years, but to have the opportunity to share my thoughts about teaching.

I told him that when I began teaching I was excited to meet the challenges that came my way each day in working with students in elementary school.  For the first time I actually enjoyed getting up and going to work early in the morning.

Owen expressed that his current classroom mentor teacher commented on how he was the first person observed, as a college student, to apply specific decoding strategies with the first graders to help them read, strategies that we reviewed and practiced together when he was quite young. 

As I went about my activities after my brief interview, I could not help but think how lucky I am to work with students who learn differently and at their own pace. As is the case with Owen, many of my students become my mentors and inspiration. There is always more to learn or different ways to approach instruction but the students are often my best teachers. 

Thank you, current and former students, for staying in my life and letting me know in your own way that I continue to make a difference for you!


Sandra Boyer provides one-on-one literacy instruction to students, kindergarten through adult. She received her Masters degree in Education from Saint Michael’s College with additional graduate work in language and literacy. Sandy has enjoyed working with a variety of students and collaborating with parents and teachers within the Stern Center community for 18 years. She loves to spend time outdoors and can be found on weekends in the fall helping with the family apple orchard.