Students should rise above labels and always believe in themselves

Joel Osteen, a well-known preacher, evangelist and author once said, "No matter what you've gone through in the past, no matter how many setbacks you've suffered...today is a new day."

Alicia Petak strongly believes in this idea and tries to not only live it but also to pass on to her students. She is the newest Clarion-Goldfield-Dows High School special education teacher and started in the fall of 2014.

Besides her role as a teacher, she is also a freshman volleyball coach and freshman girls basketball coach.

"The reason I love special education is because I can help special needs people overcome their belief they cannot do something and achieve their goals,” she said.

Read more about Petak and her classroom philosophies in the January 28 issue of The Monitor!