While many teachers dedicate their career to teaching, some started their careers in a variety of unique fields.
Alisa Israel: Medical Technology
Chemistry teacher Alisa Israel started her career in a hospital lab as a medical technologist. However, the lack of social interaction in that environment led Israel to consider a career change.
“I found the science of the medical technology interesting, but there was very little social interaction with people because you’re usually working in a laboratory by yourself, or maybe with just one other person, so it was lacking that social aspect,” said Israel.
After getting her masters degree in liberal studies from Stony Brook University, Israel was ready to start teaching. Beyond just her education, she was able to bring her real-world experiences with her to her classroom.
“I just have a better understanding of chemistry and biology just because of my experience because it was not just out of a textbook,” said Israel.
Leslie Kaplan: Electrical Engineering
Technology teacher Leslie Kaplan began her career as an electrical engineer. After working for three different companies, she decided that education was the field she wanted to be in.
“[…] When I [worked] at Symbol Technologies I saw a lot of 18-20 year old people working on a manufacturing floor being told when they can go to lunch, they had to ask if they could go to the bathroom and I kind of felt like that was demoralizing. I also saw a lot of people who were very intelligent, but didn’t have anybody in their life to say ‘you know you’re really smart, you could be an engineer…,’” said Kaplan.
Kaplan went back to school to get her masters degree in operations management. She is certified to teach business, computer science, physics, programming, and technology, along with having an administration certification. Her goal is to give students the support and tools they need for success.
“I want to boost my students up. I don’t like people feeling bad, I don’t [like] people short changing themselves. I like people to see that they have opportunities that they could reach for and meet those goals, so I think being able to teach my students technology and engineering along with showing them and giving them the path to follow is really important to me,” said Kaplan.
Erin Mascaro: Marketing & Public Relations
Business teacher Erin Mascaro worked in the public relations field before transitioning to teaching. The intense environment at her previous job made her rethink where she wanted her career to go.
“Why I left was, [the job] was my life. […] And I loved it, although I was going in at seven and leaving at three o’clock in the morning and I was spreading myself way too thin,” said Mascaro.
Even after receiving an enticing job offer from Ralph Lauren, Mascaro decided to become a business teacher. This allowed her to make the impact on people that drove her to change careers.
“I took a step back and said ‘what do I want, I’m not making an impact, I want to make a difference’ and I jumped into a career change,” said Mascaro.
Mascaro reflected on how her PR experience has helped her both in her classroom and in her non-profit, SOS Foundations Awareness.
“I kind of just transferred those people skills into my classroom, which I then also transferred into Sounds of Silence, so my other part of myself,” said Mascaro.
Robert Plechner: Accounting
Business teacher Robert Plechner started his career as an accountant before transitioning into financial services. His volunteer work during this time made him realize that he wanted to work with students.
“I had done a lot of volunteer work over the years with pediatric oncology camp programs and also the New York State Games for the Physically Challenged and loved working with kids…,” said Plechner.
When Plechner became a teacher, a masters degree in education was not a requirement, so his MS in tax and teaching certification gave him what he needed to start this new chapter.
“It was an adjustment, but it was thankfully pretty much an easy one. It was different learning to structure my day in forty minute increments,” said Plechner.
Plechner reflects on the “good gig” that teaching has been for him, no matter the hiccups that come along with the job.
“I’ve said this for years, I’ve never had a bad day since. I’ve had bad moments perhaps, but never had a bad day,” said Plechner.
Scott Wynne: United States Navy
Math teacher Scott Wynne served in the United States Navy for six years prior to his teaching career, which gave him a challenging, meaningful experience.
“It was good, […] when you’re there you counted the days until you got out, but once you got out you kind of realize how much of a part of your life that Navy was and the friends that you made. You miss them a lot, the experiences you had, the places you went,” said Wynne.
Wynne attributes his decision to become a teacher to a chief he served with that gave him a touching message.
“So as I was there for a year and I knew all of the systems they put me in charge of what was called School of the Boat […] so I started teaching the younger, the newer people that came on the boat about it […] and then it was one chief was said to me one time […] ‘You’re doing a really good job with that,’ so it stuck with me,” said Wynne.
Wynne also reflected on the difficulties he faced during his first year of teaching in 1999.
“My daughter was born in August and I started my first year of teaching in September […] so I had a newborn baby in the house and it was my first year teaching. That was the hardest year of my life, ever,” said Wynne.
On top of the past experiences held by these teachers, they also have advice for students based on lessons from their career journeys.
“As you move on through life and get different experiences, you’ll figure it out and you’ll find what […] makes you happy,” said Israel.
Spanning medical labs, Navy submarines, and the fashion world, many teachers have held intriguing past jobs that have helped shape their dynamic careers. 
