Not allowing setbacks to stop you is something the Algebra teacher and in-school suspension (ISS) supervisor, Mr. Todd Merrit, embodies and teaches his students every day.

High school can be a difficult time for a lot of people, with schoolwork, personal life, friends, and extracurricular activities. Kids who find themselves in ISS usually have something going on under the surface. 

These students might not have someone to talk to or open up to about what is going on in their lives. 

 “My favorite part of the job is the quiet, one-on-one moments with students—the conversations where they finally open up about what’s going on beneath the surface. ISS gives me a unique chance to talk with students without the pressure of a full classroom,” said Mr. Merritt. 

Teacher-student relationships can be really important. Those relationships can make students feel seen, give them someone to talk to, and give them motivation in school.

“I became a teacher because I wanted to be the kind of adult I wish more students had when I was growing up—someone who listens, sets boundaries, and helps them see their own potential even when they’re struggling,” says Mr. Merritt   

Mr. Merritt has been teaching at the Bellefonte School District for 14 years. He has also worked at Nittany Learning Services for five years before coming to Bellefonte.  

Mr. Merritt works with all kinds of kids, from all grades and backgrounds. Kids in the ISS room usually have a hard time in school for reasons they may or may not want to share, but having someone who is there for them and can help them is very important and can make a big difference.

 “I’ve always believed that school is more than academics; it’s a place where students learn who they are, and I want to support students in that process. Working in ISS allows me to reach students who often feel overlooked or misunderstood, and that feels like meaningful work to me,” said Mr. Merritt.