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Satterfield Believes in ‘Making A Difference’ For DCC Students

DANVILLE, VA -- Cassandra “Sandi” Satterfield knows she is making a difference when one of her most reluctant students logs on to the Internet with ease and eagerness. As an instructor of Information Systems Technology at Danville Community College, Satterfield’s frequent challenge is helping a person overcome a fear of computers. Many of her students are older adults caught in a factory downsizing and facing a career change at a time when they least expect it.

Because computers are Satterfield’s passion, she has the unique ability to convey that enthusiasm to her students of all ages and backgrounds.

"To me it’s neat; it’s fascinating. It’s never boring," says Satterfield, 27, who interviewed for the DCC faculty position three days before her November 2000 wedding.

Satterfield is a South Boston native and 1993 graduate of Halifax County High School, and says she hopes to always live in Halifax County. Satterfield notes that teaching was not her first choice, but that she entered the teaching field through the “back door”.

When she first started teaching, as a part-time instructor for Southside Virginia Community College in South Boston, Satterfield found her Introduction to Computer classes were filled with familiar faces. She also taught Introduction to C++ Programming for Danville Community College students.

"The majority of people I taught I knew. They were my friends’ parents," says Satterfield, who joined DCC’s faculty full-time in January 2001.

"I didn’t go to school to be a teacher," says Satterfield, who attended DCC and earned an Associate in Arts and Science Degree in Science in 1996. She transferred to Longwood College and two years later, she earned her bachelor’s degree in computer science, with a minor in economics.

Following college, Satterfield went to work in private industry. Prior to coming to DCC, she was contracted through a Florida firm as the information technology support director at Berry Hill Conference Center in South Boston. But for a family-oriented person who wanted a life outside of work, the hours were long and the pager worn on her hip was soon an unwelcome attachment. She says she also wanted more interaction with people.

"I thought, ‘this is not how I want to start off my career,’" she says. "And then I got engaged."

Knowing that she and her husband, Brian, wanted to start a family one day, Satterfield decided she should consider teaching fulltime. The couple lives in the Town of Halifax in a home she calls her "gingerbread house." She thought getting the full-time instructor job at DCC was a long shot, but she was thrilled when she was hired.

“DCC was very fortunate to be able to hire someone with the energy, enthusiasm and knowledge that Sandi has,” said Dr. Ed White, Chair, Business and Engineering Technology program. “She is able to relate to students of all ages and the fact that she truly loves teaching is reflected in how well she does her job. Having faculty like Sandi Satterfield join the DCC faculty lets us know that DCC will be in good hands for many years to come.”

And while Satterfield realizes she could make more money working in the private sector, she says love of her DCC job is what matters most.

"The part-time teaching was fun. I didn’t feel like I was going to work,” Satterfield laughs. “I also loved teaching at night."

Upon reflection, Satterfield says she realized that her earlier job as an IST support director was not so different from teaching. Every day, she was showing people how to navigate computer systems, access email and become Internet savvy. Today at DCC, the young newlywed does that and much more. She has helped re-tool the curriculum for Information Systems Technology - Computer Programming track. For example, in Spring 2003, there will be a new course offering: Introduction to Programming, which will be a prerequisite for all advanced programming languages.  Satterfield also helped develop two of the classes for the new Web Site Design Career Studies Certificate Program. She teaches two of those classes.

“Web design is a critical part (of study) for just about any IST graduate entering the workforce,” she says.

At DCC, students interested in computers have their choice of three different "tracks" in the Information Systems Technology curriculum: Track 1 - programming -- which is Satterfield’s main focus; Track II – microcomputers; and Track III - networking. An Associate in Applied Science Degree is awarded for successful completion of program requirements. Boosted by the curriculum changes made recently, Satterfield says she believes an IST degree from DCC will better prepare graduates to work in the real world of programming.

"This Associate degree is more involved, more comprehensive," she adds.

Satterfield says she does not miss the "major rat race" of working in the private sector. "I like a teacher’s set schedule," says Satterfield, who loves the outdoors and wants to get back into dance. Growing up, she laced up ballet shoes and slipped on tap shoes for a fun break from work. Work was also an integral part of Satterfield’s family life, starting at a young age.

"Tobacco has been a large part of my family for many, many generations," she says. Her father operated a tobacco warehouse in South Boston for years, and Satterfield and her older brother often helped out, even before they could see over the tall piles of golden leaf.

"I can remember as a child sweeping the warehouse," she adds.

Her mother also worked outside of the home while Satterfield was growing up, and today manages an H&R Block office in South Boston. As a teenager, Satterfield became a cashier at Food Lion -- an experience everyone should have to get a true taste of dealing with the public, she joked. But her early work experiences shaped the eager, self-described "people person" that she is today, says Satterfield, who enjoyed talking to Western Europeans in her job at Berry Hill.

"I talked to people from all over the world --Italy, Germany, Portugal and Japan. I had to set up computers in all of those languages," she says.

It is that kind of work experience that makes Satterfield a valuable commodity as an IST instructor. She knows what employers are looking for in IST graduates today. Satterfield hopes all of her students will gain a well-rounded education as well as a good-paying job after graduation. Starting pay for programmers in this area of the Commonwealth is around $25,000 a year, she says.

"Programming is a problem-solving process. IST teaches logical thinking," she explained, adding, "It’s not easy."

For Satterfield, the most gratifying thing about teaching is getting students not just acclimated to computers, but to have them thirsting for some time on the keyboard. Her father, for example, was a long-time computer skeptic.

"Now he just loves Ebay!" says Satterfield, who teases her dad about questioning her love of computer science years ago.

"It has been wonderful," she says of her experience at DCC, and of the support from her teaching colleagues -- many of whom are her former teachers.

"I thoroughly enjoy it. It has been a dream come true for me," Satterfield adds.