Joe Jonati

"A man with vision sees potential in everyone" Every child has a unique and special gift to offer and a teacher has the ability to draw out that gift. And, according to Plum Junior High teacher Joe Ionta, if you show respect to the students and show them that you care, 950f the time they will reach their maximum potential. If a teacher has this attitude, not only will school life be improved but also society will be better off.

Joe believes that sometimes you decide to go one way and then God puts you on another path. He started out in life wanting to be a veterinarian. After going to Grove City College and working in a veterinarian's office, he found that he really wanted to work with children instead. So, it was back to college to get a teaching degree. This new path landed him into a position in the Plum School District where he has just completed twenty-five years of teaching.

He began his teaching profession as a long-term substitute at Gateway where his wife Linda is a teacher. Then, when a position opened up at the Plum High School he was referred for the position. He taught science there for several years before being laid off. After going back to school, Joe gained a position at O'Block Junior High to teach math. He currently teaches 7th grade Algebra 1 and Pre-Algebra. "Both these experiences were good. I know what is expected at the high school level so I'm able to make sure that the students get what they need to move forward."

Outside of the classroom, Joe invests in the lives of the students through sports. He has been the basketball coach for fifteen years, the track coach for twenty-five and the cross-country coach for ten years. He is very sports oriented and runs five miles a day when he gets the chance. All these responsibilities take up most of his spare time.

Joe feels that he has been very blessed with his teaching career because he has had the opportunity to work for an outstanding school district, incredible administrative staff and amazing students. Besides being very occupied with school activities, Joe is also very involved in his church, the Presbyterian Church of Pitcairn, where he is an Elder and a Sunday school teacher.