Penn-Trafford alumni have always been a large part of the community, and it has not been uncommon for graduated students to return to their alma mater for a visit. A few have even recently returned for a position on the P-T faculty.

     One of the newest faculty members is Joshua Bujakowski, a 2015 graduate of P-T. Bujakowski is spending his first year as a permanent teacher at P-T teaching the TV and film classes, which he took while he was a student. 

     Bujakowski said, “It’s funny yet gratifying that I was taught things and now it’s my chance to teach other people the things I was taught here.”

     Another teacher returning to the school after graduating in 2013 is Kendall Snee, who, like Bujakowski, recently returned in a unique position.

     “I started in October. This is kind of an unprecedented position. They needed someone to check in on seniors online to see if they were doing what they were supposed to be,” said Snee.

     Snee is certified in English and tutors some students at the school. 

     Since their graduation, much has changed about the high school. P-T began renovations on the school in the year 2015 and finished in the year 2016.

     “The school has changed completely in a layout setting. The video room that we are currently in wasn’t even built by the time I graduated. The technology and the overall idea of the program has completely changed as well,” said Bujakowski.

     Not only have classroom settings changed, but so have many of the public areas of the school such as the media center. 

     “We used to have a really big selection of books, and now we’ve gone primarily online, and there’s new glass rooms. Everything is very updated,”said Snee. 

     With the new updates to P-T, the school is quite different from the returning teachers’ school years, but it is evident that these changes have had a positive effect on both students and staff.  

     Both Bujakowski and Snee have had the chance to be a student and educator at their alma mater, but Bujakowski has also assisted with the P-T marching band and P-T indoor percussion ensemble as a student and staff member.

     “I think being a staff member on both of those has been very gratifying just as an educator because I am able to see a program that I was heavily invested in as a student be one of the best in its class regionally and nationally. The opportunities that I was given can now be replicated in the current day,” said Bujakowski. 

     With their return to P-T, both teachers have had the chance to reflect on their experiences as a student and how they compare to their experiences as educators currently.

     Snee said, “As a student I felt really comfortable trying new things. Nobody was ever gonna make fun of me for going out and trying a new sport or joining a new club. I kind of feel, as a teacher, now it’s still the same. Everyone is very nice to me if I have questions, or if I want to try something differently, which is very nice as an adult.”

     Bujakowski noted that things were much easier as a student.

    “It’s definitely more stressful being on the teaching side because you’re worrying about six classes instead of just one, but the experience has been good. I get a chance to see other peoples’ ideas and collaborate with them so I think that’s why it makes it fun,” said Bujakowski.

     The alumni at P-T who have since returned as teachers look back on their time as a student and remember the good times they had as students and see the differences the school has made over the years. 

Maddie Decker, Managing Editor