Mr. Cammarata teaches US Civics and is the adviser for the Eagle Eye News. He also coaches the Mock Trial team, advises the Peer Jury program and the Avedium club. Before moving to the high school he taught in the middle school and coached varsity boys and girls swimming for 8 years. 

Eagle Eye: What inspired you to become a teacher?

Mr. Todd Cammarata: My mom was a teacher for many years, so that definitely had a big influence on me. I also had great teachers inspire me at all levels of my education.  Especially my professors at Juniata College, who were all very good teachers.  Particularly Klaus Kipphan and Dave Hsiung from the history department and Gary Aichele from the political science department.

E.E.: How long have you been teaching?

TC: 16.5 years.

E.E.:Have you always taught at Tyrone? If not, where else have you taught?

TC: I taught one year at Central Cambria and a semester at Cambria Heights before coming to Tyrone.

E.E.: What is your favorite memory as a teacher?

TC: No one moment stands out above others but my best memories are when I get a sincere “thanks” from a student for something I helped them to understand or accomplish. It doesn’t happen very often, but when it does I know I’m doing something good.

E.E.: If you weren’t teaching right now, what would you be doing?

TC: Ideally I  would say a writer, a photographer or some kind of journalism or advertising field.  Realisitically I would probably just be looking for a job because I don’t feel qualified to do much else!

E.E.: Where did you attend high school?

TC: Cambria Heights Highlanders, class of ’89!

E.E.: Where did you attend college?

Juniata College – history/political science degree; IUP – secondary education/social studies certification; PSU – grad school.

E.E.: What is your favorite movie?

TC: So many come to mind. Some of my all time favorites are  Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Schindler’s List, It’s A Wonderful Life, Star Wars (the original 3 – not the more recent ‘prequels’), Saving Private Ryan, The Breakfast Club, The Shawshank Redemption.

E.E.: What is your favorite book?

TC: Again, so many. The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien, Night by Elie Wiesel, Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser, The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan, Dead Man Walking by Sister Helen Prejean, Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich, and almost any book by John Krakauer, Sabasian Junger or Malcolm Gladwell.

E.E.: What is your favorite sport and sports team?

TC: My favorite sport to participate in is definitely skiing. My favorite sports to watch are baseball and football.  My favorite teams are the Steelers, Pirates, Penguins, Penn State and of course, the Tyrone Golden Eagles!