Tyrone Area High School’s social studies department welcomed a new face this year: Ms. Karen Doberstein, who took over in September as the new 10th-grade civics teacher.
Doberstein grew up just outside Philadelphia, where her love of school and outgoing personality led her to a career in teaching.
“I was one of those kids who really liked school, and I just love being in a school environment,” Doberstein said. “I just like talking to people and working with people, and I knew [teaching] would never get boring, and so things are different every day, and that’s certainly proven to be true.”
After graduating from Penn State University’s main campus, Doberstein returned to her hometown to work, staying there until 2010, when she and her husband moved back to State College, where he works at Penn State University.
Her most recent position before Tyrone was also at Penn State, not as a classroom teacher but as an academic advisor in the College of Engineering.
“My main responsibilities [in the College of Engineering] were helping students with their schedules, and helping students who were in what’s called academic recovery,” she said. “If their GPAs dropped a little bit, we would work with them to try to come up with a plan to get back into good standing.”
Although she “really, really liked” her advising work, Doberstein realized how much she missed teaching when two of her children became very involved in their middle school drama production.
She volunteered frequently, and every time she entered the building, she felt the pull of the classroom again.
“Every time I walked into the building, I was just like, ‘Ah, I missed this. This is where I want to be. This is what I want to do.’”
When the civics position at Tyrone opened over the summer, it felt like the right fit for her, and she applied for the job.
Doberstein admits that she didn’t know much about Tyrone at first, but her research and her experience in the interview process quickly changed that.
“I was very impressed with everybody…how much people seem to care about each other, and how there’s a big priority focusing on the students,” Doberstain said.
Doberstein is certified in secondary social studies and has taught a wide range of subjects, including modern American history, psychology, sociology, and civics.
“I like teaching civics the best by far,” she said, calling the Tyrone position “such a great transition back into teaching,” especially because “it was purely civics.”
Over her career, Doberstein has worked with learners from preschoolers to college students, but she particularly likes the way classroom conversations in high school can take unexpected turns…in a good way.
“It just changes every single day, and unexpected things always come up,” she said. “It’s so exciting when somebody asks a question and the conversation just takes a totally different direction than what I was expecting… and then all of a sudden, we’re off to the races.”
Sophomore Genna Naylor has been in Doberstein’s civics class all year and appreciates what she brings to the classroom.
“Ms. D does a good job preparing students for exams,” Naylor said. “She informs the students from multiple viewpoints and always makes sure students are respectful to each other.”
Outside of school, Doberstein said that her life is busy and family-centered. “I have three kids, so my activities consist of driving them to whatever their activities are,” she laughed.
When she does find a bit of time for herself, she likes to unwind with a good book or spend time in the garden. “I really, I love to read. I love to garden. So if there’s time, that’s probably what I’m doing,” Doberstein said.
