Hampshire High welding teacher enjoys 'dream job'

Before he joined the Industrial Technology department at Hampshire High School, Vince Serritella served in the Air Force.

"I served from December 1997 until March of 2000. I was an aircrew member aboard the JSTARS (Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System) aircraft, 12th Airborne Command and Control Squadron," Serritella said.

"I was stationed at Robins AFB in Georgia and also served during Operation Allied Force, which was the Kosovo peacekeeping campaign."

Now 39, the Wood Dale resident has been teaching welding and CAD in Community Unit District 300 for nine years - a position he says is his dream job.

Serritella received degrees in educational technology from Illinois State and Concordia universities. The Daily Herald caught up with Serritella to learn more about his background and how it informs his teaching style.

Q. After serving in the military, why did you decide to get into teaching?

A. I was a computer major at Illinois State that I didn't like so I switched majors. I've always enjoyed using my hands and learning new technology, and the summers off sounded like a nice perk, so I decided to give it a shot, and I'm glad I did because I consider myself one of the lucky few that has a job they consider a dream job.

Q. What do you enjoy most about teaching?

A. I enjoy cultivating a positive atmosphere for students to learn in and grow as humans and citizens of this great country.

I enjoy the positive relationships I have with my students, as well as the fantastic staff here at Hampshire High School. I also enjoy teaching subjects that students are interested in learning about.

But, most of all, I enjoy the feeling I get at the end of the school day because I feel as though I've done something worthwhile.

Q. How does your experience in the military inform or affect your teaching style?

A. The military is an exceptional educational institute ... they believe in structure, discipline, repetition and kinesthetic (hands-on) learning, so I've modeled that educational style in my classrooms.

Q. How does discipline in schools differ from the armed services?

A. The military has a very high bar as far as what they expect from their people in regards to discipline, job performance, personal character, etc., so there is definitely a big difference.

I like to think that I instill some of that discipline into my students, but I believe they enjoy the challenge.

Q. Do Veterans Day programs at the schools have a little extra meaning for you?

A. Yes, it is nice to see the school honor the veterans of this community. A special shout out to Dennis Maher, a retired District 300 history teacher that started the Veterans Day program here at HHS when it first opened in 2008.

Q. What advice would you give a high school student who is considering a career in the armed services?

A. If you are looking to give yourself a leg up in life, a personal challenge and an adventure, the armed services is a good place to go, especially if you don't have enough money for college or if you don't know what you want to do with your life after high school.

The military can really show a person what they are made of. The military can also help young people to gain some perspective on all of the little things they take for granted every day, like their freedom.

I always tell my students about the time in basic training when my flight won the Honor Flight competition, which was based on points for inspections, drills, etc.

Our reward for winning was a five-minute call home and one item from the vending machine - I remember how excited we all were, almost like we won a small lottery.

I tell my students that they sometimes make calls and get candy bars from the vending machine on their way to their next class and think nothing of it. You can't have perspectives on things until those things are no longer in your life.

Q. Anything else you'd like to share with readers?

A. I think it's important to remember that the military does not decide its missions - those are decided by the lawmakers that we vote into office ... so if we disagree with what the military is doing, we should be protesting at the ballot box.

Also, that military personnel do not wish for war ... but although nobody wants to fight, someone needs to know how.