“The visual of that has always stuck with me, and through the years, I’ve just felt as though those individuals didn’t have rights, or that their human rights were being denied,” DeHaas says.

Recognizing this marginalization wasn’t enough for DeHaas; she needed to help change the situation. As the years went on, she dedicated her summers to teaching swim lessons to and taking care of children with disabilities in group homes. She cherishes these experiences, hoping that she made an impact on the quality of their lives. These moments ultimately drove her passion for teaching and being an advocate for inclusion.

“I have always enjoyed learning and I’ve always wanted to be a teacher,” DeHaas says. “That, coupled with experiences I had growing up, formed what I believe has been my career, my professional life, and my purpose.”

After earning a bachelor’s degree in special and elementary education from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, a master’s degree in special education and educational leadership from Providence College, and a doctorate in special education and human development from Penn State University, DeHaas’s dedication to teaching took her to the University of Northern Colorado. There, she began to teach education students about working with students with disabilities.

Eventually, DeHaas missed the east coast and felt compelled to take a chance at an opportunity here at Juniata.

“Juniata happened to be advertising for a special education faculty member to continue to develop a dual-certification program, which is exactly what I had been trying to do in Colorado because that was where my interest had been at the time,” DeHaas recalls.

When she visited campus for her interview, DeHaas discovered that she shared values with the Juniata’s Education Department, whose members held progressive views on inclusive education.

“That was a key component, to have faculty that already embraced the belief system that we need to prepare teachers to work with children that exist on a continuum of strengths and need,” she says.

DeHaas’s admiration for teaching special education at Juniata has continued to grow over the years, a purpose she passes on to the future teachers she helps to prepare. As her career at the College has progressed, she has recognized the value that a liberal arts college gives to its students and what students can give back to it.

“I’ve learned that liberal arts schools are perfect for preparing teachers because not only do students get the department curriculum, but the college curriculum teaches them about the world, along with problem solving, critical thinking, and self-determination,” she says. “Because they are emerging adults, they teach me about their perspective of the world. When they teach me their perspective, I can then tailor my courses to address their concerns.”

Through courses like Social, Emotional, and Behavior Disabilities and Differentiated Instruction, DeHaas gives students the skills and knowledge they need to be successful as future teachers of students with disabilities. She also advocates for and teaches about working with people with special needs by publishing articles in peer-reviewed journals and presenting to other professors at state and national conferences. Her expertise lies in assessing and determining the strengths and needs of individuals to influence the quality of their lives.

“I’ve learned that liberal arts schools are perfect for preparing teachers because not only do students get the department curriculum, the college curriculum teaches them about the world, along with problem solving, critical thinking, and self-determination.”Sarah Jane DeHaas, Martin G. Brumbaugh Professor of Education

Singing Christmas carols, teaching swimming lessons, leading in the classroom, or serving as an academic adviser, DeHaas works to empower all through her knowledge of special education—and in so doing, she passes on a powerful purpose to all who partner with her.

“Everyone exists on a continuum and throughout our lives, we have good times and challenging times,” DeHaas says. “The value of special education is not only preparing future teachers for students of diversity, but also for people with diversity in their lives.” >j<