Howard+Schnaufer

Hello. I am Howard Schnaufer Jr. I graduated from Maryvale High School. A sworn enemy of the Cheektowaga Warriors. I teach the 6:1-1 K-1-2 special education class at Pine Hill Primary Center. This is my attempt at reconstructing the snowstorm.

I loved playing sports in high school and wanted nothing more than to play baseball in college, followed by the major leagues. After my senior year I quickly realized that dream would not be a reality. I decided instead to follow a different career choice. I always loved helping others and working with kids. I figured the best place to do both of those things was in a school, as a teacher.

Well it was a little late to get into a good school as I never took my SAT's. So I decided to attend ECC. I just needed to pass the entrance exam and I was in. I spent one year there and quickly figured out I was not a big fan of college. After a semester of very poor attendance and mediocre grades, the school would not let me back for another semester. My parents were furious and told me to quickly fix the mistakes I had made. I had to write a letter to the college stating why the semester had gone so bad and basically beg to get back in. They let me back in and I proceeded to have very good grades graduating with a better than average GPA.

From there it was a quick and easy transfer to Buffalo State College. The only problem was that when I got to Buffalo State to register there were no classes left that really had anything to do with teaching. (If you have ever attended Buffalo State you know what I am talking about). So I took some classes that meant very little to me. That was a big mistake. I slacked in all of those classes and did very poor that semester. My GPA was low enough to put me on Academic Probation. The following semester I actually got into all of the classes I wanted. I quickly lifted myself out of the hole I was buried in. Every semester there after was just about perfect. I graduated and earned my certification for teaching in New York State.

After graduating in the fall, I spent the spring semester just working as a server at Jack Astor's. I watched the faculty of Cheektowaga Central come in for their CCTA socials. They seemed like a really cool bunch of people to work with. So I decided that summer to put in my application to Cheektowaga Central for subbing. I was called in the winter to sub at Pine Hill. I spent the three days before Christmas in a Kindergarten classroom. That was an eye opener. After the last day the principal asked me if I would be interested in staying in that room as a long-term substitute. Of course I said yes. I spent the rest of that year in a Kindergarten classroom and fell in love with the little kids. I never thought that would have happened.

The following year I did another long-term substitute position. At the end of that year I found out that there was an opening for a special education teacher. I applied and got the job. I love my job and I love all the people that I work with. I hope to spend a long time where I am.