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Derek Fisher '05

Degrees: Bachelor of Arts in Health and Physical Education and a minor in coaching.

What he's doing now: I currently teach PreK-3 grade at two different schools, one of which is a Spanish immersion school.

After Graduation: In the summer of 2008, I returned to my hometown of Mansfield, Ohio to take a job as a physical education teacher for my alma mater. This was a big transition for me as I had been in the Otterbein area for eight years and so much has changed in the Mansfield district since.

His Otterbein experience: My method of getting to this point was definitely not standard. I arrived at Otterbein knowing that I was going to, and had always wanted to, teach. It took awhile to decide on what subject(s). I leaned heavily on my sports background, love of games, and some very influential professors and staff in the Health and Sport Sciences department to come to the decision that Health and Physical Education were the right fit for me.

When I started the program I was a little behind those that had declared this major from their first year. Upon graduation, I still wasn't quite ready to teach as I didn't go through the Education program at Otterbein. However, I returned after a year of substitute teaching to receive my Education license. I took another year to continue to substitute teach and coach until being offered my first "real job."

Derek's Advice: My advice to aspiring students would be to trust the staff in the Health and Sport Sciences department. They are great people and I find out more and more everyday how right they were years ago.