Featuring Anthony Scala of Ocala, Fla., who is majoring in Special Education Generalist (K-12) at Wayne State College.
Being someone students can count on is what attracted Anthony Scala toward becoming a teacher. Scala, a senior from Ocala, Fla., who is majoring in Special Education K-12 at Wayne State, is this week’s subject of the Student Spotlight Series.
“I want to be the kind of teacher students can rely on, and someone who can provide a safe space for them,” said Scala, a first-generation college student. “What ultimately attracted me to special education is Platteview High School Unified Sports in Springfield, Neb. I had the opportunity to help with that organization, and it was such a great experience for me. Gary Wood and Christina Elder are two great coaches there, and they helped influence my decision to get into special education.”
“Those two coaches influenced me a lot,” added Scala. “But I chose to attend Wayne State College because of its fantastic education department and the people I got to know while visiting.”
People who have a passion for knowledge and sharing it to build a better world are a perfect fit for a career in education. Pursuing a teaching degree from Wayne State allows students to follow in the footsteps of thousands of students before them. Wayne State builds outstanding education professionals for schools in Nebraska and around the world. In fact, 1 in 10 Nebraska teachers has at least one degree from Wayne State.
Wayne State provides many avenues for students to gain an edge on other teacher candidates by ensuring they have quality, hands-on work experience before graduation. Wayne State’s faculty members work with students in a personalized setting, delivering classwork and field experiences that introduce them to classroom management and curriculum development before they take their first teaching position.
Wayne State students can also earn multiple teaching endorsements in four years. When pairing subjects like ESL, reading and writing, and special education with other endorsements, Wayne State graduates have an advantage over other job candidates for teaching positions that are in high demand.
At Wayne State, Scala is active in the Wayne State Service-Learning Program and the wrestling team.
Scala will graduate in May 2026. He intends to pursue a career as a special education teacher and eventually become a special education director.
Fun Fact: “I can wiggle my ears without touching them.”