Leslie (Weber) McRobbie '07, English Alum Spotlight
Leslie At A Glance
Education
- B.S.E. Secondary English Education, 2007 (Millersville University)
- M.Ed. Literacy and Education, 2011 (Walden University)
- EMT Certification, 2017 (Harrisburg Area Community College)
Career Highlights
- Teacher at Solanco High School for almost 14 years; teaching 11th and 12th grade American Literature, Modern Novels, and AP Research
- English Department Chair
- Maintained a free Homecoming and Prom attire rental service for high school students
- Directed a student-led Writing Center
- Shaved her hair in 2015 to raise money for Solanco’s Mini-Thon
- Student Senate advisor
- SAP team member
- Awarded Distinguished Teacher for the district
- Education Director for The Community Action Association of Pennsylvania
Current Pursuits
- Teaches the same EMT program that she underwent at HACC to raise "high-quality" and "empathetic" first responders in our area
- Works to address issues of poverty and inequity across the commonwealth by providing educational opportunities and training for member agencies, organizing conferences and webinars, and fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion within Community Action
Continue reading Leslie's story to learn more about how she dedicated her life to serving students after graduating college. Discover the inspirational reason behind her decision to become a certified EMT and how her careerpath changed amid the Covid-19 global pandemic.
“My confidence has grown from these moments of pride and success, allowing me to take bigger leaps and make bolder choices. Looking back on my years in education, I am overwhelmed with pride in my work.”
- Leslie (Weber) McRobbie | B.S.E. '07
Practicing Gratitude with Each Success
"During moments of pride and success, it was never lost on me that Millersville University put me in the position to experience them. Being named a Distinguished Teacher for my district was because I took the exceptional foundation Millersville gave me and I ran with it. I knew what a good educator looked like because I had been taught by so many. Millersville gave me an advantage in my career in so many ways. My confidence has grown from these moments of pride and success, allowing me to take bigger leaps and make bolder choices. Looking back on my years in education, I am overwhelmed with pride in my work."
“Millersville is where I fell in love with the philosophy of education, but Solanco [High School] is where I fell in love with the act of teaching.”
- Leslie (Weber) McRobbie | B.S.E. '07
“As a teacher, it is impossible to notice the presence and rise of school violence across the nation. It occurred to me that I wanted to be more prepared in the event of a crisis. In 2017, I attended Harrisburg Area Community College to become a nationally certified EMT, which I have maintained ever since.”
- Leslie (Weber) McRobbie | B.S.E. '07
A Life Dedicated to Serving Others
"When I was a senior at Millersville, I was assigned to student teach at Solanco High School in Quarryville, PA. Millersville is where I fell in love with the philosophy of education, but Solanco is where I fell in love with the act of teaching. It was an overwhelmingly positive experience for me, and I jumped at the chance to teach there when offered a position upon graduation. I taught at Solanco High School for almost 14 years. I taught 11th and 12th grade American Literature, Modern Novels, and AP Research. I served as English Department Chair, Student Senate advisor, SAP team member, ran a student-led Writing Center, and maintained a free Homecoming and Prom attire rental service. I even shaved off all my hair in 2015 to raise money for Solanco’s Mini-Thon. In 2017, I was named Distinguished Teacher for the district. The time I spent teaching at Solanco High School represented some of the best years of my life."
"As a teacher, it is impossible to notice the presence and rise of school violence across the nation. It occurred to me that I wanted to be more prepared in the event of a crisis. In 2017, I attended Harrisburg Area Community College to become a nationally certified EMT, which I have maintained ever since. In addition, I now teach the same program that I went through at HACC to aspiring EMTs. This has proven to be an immensely rewarding position, and it is wonderful to be a part of raising high-quality, empathetic first responders."
"Amid the pandemic, I felt called to leave teaching for something that would have a broader impact. In 2020, I became the Education Director for The Community Action Association of Pennsylvania, a state association nonprofit that works to address issues of poverty and inequity across the commonwealth. I work with our member agencies to provide educational opportunities and training, organize conferences and webinars, and work on diversity, equity, and inclusion within Community Action."
“As a lover of literature and writing, being an English major was a dream. ”
- Leslie (Weber) McRobbie | B.S.E. '07
From the Start: An English Major at Heart
"Growing up, English was always my favorite subject. When every other student groaned over being assigned an essay, I quietly cheered. Becoming an English teacher was a natural choice for me. That love for English propelled me to where I am today, even though I no longer teach the subject. Having excellent written and communication skills (Thanks, Dr. Greg, Comm. Department) has allowed me to have an executive-level role at a statewide organization."
"It was such a privilege to read, discuss, and study beautiful works of art with accomplished, engaging professors. I would bet that all English Education majors who went through Millersville will say that one of the best professors they learned under was Kimberly McCollum."
"Kim was a wealth of information and the most empathetic and phenomenal educator. I credit her with a successful and satisfying career, as well as with a career shift later in life. Her influence on me lasted well beyond my time at the Ville."
“I grew up in a home where reading was a reward, and my love for literature and language was deeply fostered”
- Leslie (Weber) McRobbie | B.S.E. '07
Finding a Good Book and Falling in Love at the Ville
"I am grateful for my English classes on a personal level as well. My husband first saw me reading a book for class on a couch in Bard Hall in 2003, and the rest is history. We have a daughter together, and she loves visiting the pond at Millersville with us, where it all began."