Alumni Spotlight

Not a day goes by that you won’t find Joe Scoboria ’16 chatting with students in the cafeteria at Daniel Boone Area High School, where he is the assistant principal for grades 9 and 11.

During lunch, they talk about everything and nothing — friends, grades, sports — and forge a connection that helps them feel part of something bigger than themselves.

These interactions, Scoboria said, are part of what encourages students to keep showing up every day. He learned the value of conversation at home, as well as the joys of working in education.

“Growing up, my sisters and I were busy with sports and activities, but our parents always found the time to sit around the dinner table and ask about our day. You weren’t allowed to leave the Scoboria kitchen table without first engaging with current events, debate and politics,” he said. “My mother (Dr. Rosemarie Cirulli Scoboria M’81), a teacher and reading specialist, came home with proud ‘a-ha’ moments from her students, and talked about what a great team there was at Daniel Boone.”

Scoboria’s father, Joe, a business representative for AFSCME and former president of the Local 462 chapter, and a former probation officer, demonstrated how important it is to get involved and advocate for others. At KU, Scoboria took this lesson to heart, and represented the College of Education as a first-year student and sophomore. The following year, he ran for Student Government board president and won. He would go on to be re-elected for his senior year.

“I ran on a platform of campus safety and events,” he said. “As president, I spoke to students about voting and having a voice in government. We participated in (PASSHE) Advocacy Days in Harrisburg and shared our thoughts and ideas with legislators. I spearheaded an effort to bring the long-standing polling location back to KU — it had been moved five miles away to the Maxatawny Municipal Building — and right before the 2020 election, I received a call that it was returned to campus.”

Scoboria credits his involvement with student government for teaching him skills that have been crucial to his current position, such as leadership, budgeting, delegating, public speaking, and how to become an advocate for others. In addition, his experience with KU faculty had a huge impact.

“All of my professors in the education and history departments were incredible,” he said. “Teachers I spent a lot of time with, but also those I just had one or two classes with. They all go above and beyond, whether it’s for a huge lecture in the Academic Forum or a 20-student seminar in Beekey (Education Center) — I always felt each professor cared about every individual student.”

Scoboria’s biggest piece of advice for first year students? Be sure to attend office hours. “I went to every one of my professor’s office hours to introduce myself,” he said.
“It helps forge a personal connection. Tell them, ‘This is who I am, this is why I’m here and these are my goals.’ When you’re young, you think you have all the answers but you don’t. Be patient, listen and learn. Education should always be a priority.” 

After graduating with his B.S.Ed. in elementary and special education, Scoboria secured a teaching position at Glenside Elementary in the Reading School District.

The following summer, he became certified to teach social studies for grades 7-12 and switched to Southern Middle School, where he taught seventh-grade social studies and coached for the varsity junior high basketball team before accepting a position at Daniel Boone. He earned his master’s degree in teaching English as a Second Language from Alvernia University, and his school administrator certification through Immaculata University.

Currently, he is working toward his doctorate in Educational Leadership and Administration at the University of Florida, with the ultimate goal of becoming a school district superintendent.

This article appeared in the 2022 Tower Magazine