University of Findlay Alumna Returns to Campus to Inspire Future Educators

University of Findlay graduate Jessica Rolfes, ’02 middle childhood education major, recently returned to campus as part of the College of Education’s Visiting Educator Series. Now a sixth-grade language arts and social studies teacher at Allen East Middle School, Rolfes brought more than two decades of classroom experience back to her alma mater, offering current students a firsthand look at the realities and rewards of teaching.

At the invitation of Julie McIntosh, Ed.D., dean of the College of Education, Rolfes returned to Findlay to share her experiences with current students at the annual event. During her visit, Rolfes had breakfast with student leaders, presented to three classes, and shared lunch with COE faculty and staff. Throughout the day, she reflected on the lessons she’s learned in the classroom and how her preparation at UF helped shape her approach as an educator.

“Coming back to Findlay has been so exciting. I have not been back here in a long time, but it also felt kind of like coming home,” Rolfes said. “When I got invited by Dr. McIntosh to come and speak, I felt so honored. I’m so proud to have come from here because this place really helped create the type of teacher I am.”

Returning to campus naturally sparked memories for Rolfes, especially of the classmates and experiences that helped mold her future. The variety and uniqueness of her classes from one semester to the next also stood out profoundly to her.

“A lot of my memories revolve around the people I had class with – we were always together. I remember a social studies content class, and we had to draw countries. I was not good at geography, and I remember thinking, ‘How am I supposed to teach geography when I don’t even know how to draw Asia?’” Rolfes said. “We had to pay attention and figure it out because I might be doing this in a class with kids the next year. I’ve done that activity so many times since then.”

While many educators point to a K–12 teacher who inspired them to enter the profession, Rolfes’ path looked a little different. She first discovered her passion for teaching when she was asked to lead a dance class in high school. As a dancer, she shared her knowledge and expertise with kindergartners, where she discovered the joy of helping children learn and grow. That experience sparked her interest in education, rather than an influential teacher in grade school (which many educational professionals claim). It wasn’t until she arrived at Findlay when that all changed.

“I didn’t have that story until I got to college. And then, I had that story,” Rolfes said. “When I started teaching, I knew I wanted to do exactly what [my professors] did for me. If that’s not the epitome of success in your profession from where you graduated, then I don’t know what is.”

At UF, she found professors who modeled the impact she hoped to make one day in her own classroom – making her return to Findlay a surreal moment she won’t forget.

“It’s a full-circle feeling, and it’s just so humbling. Ever since I started teaching, my goal has always been to come back to a place like this and teach teachers because I feel so grateful that I had the best teachers.”

As for her advice to aspiring educators, Rolfes encourages them to hold tightly to the deep-rooted joy that first drew them to the profession, no matter how they found it.

“You’ve got to have passion for it, and you’ve got to love it. Because it’s hard, and you have to come back to it [no matter the situation or challenge]. But if you do have [passion for] it, don’t waste it. It is a gift and a calling – and you need to follow it.”

For more information on the University of Findlay’s College of Education programs, visit www.findlay.edu/education.