Meet Your Stark County All-Star Teachers!

are numerous reasons for becoming a teacher. However, the best explanation for why I wanted to be a teacher is to have a positive, inspiring impact on children’s lives. You achieve this by being kind, caring, empathic, passionate, and funny.

Q: What do you love about your job?

A: It’s incredible watching kids grow and change over a school year. I know about developmental changes in the age groups we teach, but I love seeing how that plays out in individual students. Students change physically and in how they move and use their bodies. They learn new academic and social skills. It’s almost like getting to know two different kids.

Youtz Elementary music teacher

Q: Why did you want to be a teacher?

A: I wanted to be a teacher because I am a child at heart. I enjoy being silly, and fun, and connecting with the children in that way. I also love seeing students develop critical thinking skills and explore their personalities through the lens of general music and choir. I always knew that I wanted to teach in an elementary school position, even in college. My parents often told me that as a young girl, they would find me trying to “teach” my siblings how to read and write.

Q: What do you love about your job?

Crenshaw’s Beth Vassalotti was the district’s choice for the Stark County All-Star Teaching Team! A Canton native, she graduated from GlenOak High School and attended Kent State University for her Bachelor of Science in Education.

After a few years of settling into her teaching job, she earned a Master of Administration from Ashland University. She’s been married to Chris Vassalotti for 14 years and they have a blended family of four children.

Nathan Vassalotti is 24 and lives in Manhattan, New York. He works for JP Morgan. Tyler Vassalotti is 23 and lives in Marietta, Ohio. He works for People’s Bank.

Megan Anderson is 22 and getting her Master’s of Education at Walsh University.

Gabe Anderson is 20 and is a sophomore at Walsh University, earning a degree in business.

Q: Why did you want to become a teacher?

A: I’ve completed my 29th year of teaching, and there

Q: What would the students be surprised to find out about you?

A: My students would be surprised to learn that I love the season of winter and snow skiing. I’ve been snow skiing since age 4, and the first snow each year makes me happy!

Q: What are your summer plans?

A: My summer plans begin with spending time with my family, friends, and dog, Mia. Our vacation destination is visiting our oldest son in Manhattan, New York. Lastly, I will work on a college class and catch up on my sleep.

Desiree Hargrave was selected as the district’s Rookie of the Year for the Stark County Education Celebration. She is from Massillon and grew up in the Wayne County area. She is the oldest of three and her parents are business owners who live in Millersburg, OH. They own a coffee shop called Broken Grounds Coffee Company but also have been musicians, counselors, and pastors for the majority of her life. Hargrave attended Kingsway Christian School for elementary, middle, and high school. She studied music at Malone University and graduated in 2018.

A: I love getting to make music with the students. I love showing them how music relates to all subjects and seeing them make those cross-curricular connections. I love that I get to come to work and be my goofy, fun-loving self with the children while also forming relationships with them and learning about their lives. And of course, I love the fact that I get to sing every day for work.

Q: What is one of your hidden talents?

A: I enjoy being active and many people seem to be surprised when they find out that I like to lift weights and train like a bodybuilder - squats, deadlifts, the whole nine yards!

Q: What would the students be surprised to find out about you?

A: That I was not born in Ohio - I was actually born in Oklahoma and moved to three other states before my family moved to Ohio!

Q: What are your summer plans?

A: My summer plans include gardening in my vegetable garden, working out, hiking, spending time with my two dogs, and performing regionally as a character performer for Castle on a Cloud Entertainment as characters such as the Frog Princess, Little Mermaid, and others!