Growing up at a time when career choices for women were rapidly expanding, Suzanne Daywalt never imagined that she would take the traditional route and become a teacher. However, after twenty years of teaching social studies at North Penn, Daywalt has found that traditional route to be the road to her true passion.

Though Daywalt knew at a young age that she wanted to help children in the classroom, she was encouraged to explore other interests as employment opportunities for women increased.

“Growing up, it was sort of the peak of there being a lot more opportunities for women than just being a teacher,” said Daywalt, “and so different people who were important in my life, they said to me, ‘don’t be a teacher. What else do you think you might want to be?’”

Daywalt’s interest in law led her to study pre-law and political science in college, but in her senior year she decided not to attend law school.

Once out of college, Daywalt bounced around between different careers, first working in management for Roadway Trucking Company, the first female in the company to hold a management position. After only one year in this career, she decided to go back to law, becoming a paralegal for six years.

It wasn’t until a tragic event that Daywalt decided to finally follow her passion.

“When I was 29, my best friend died, and I had one of those ‘what am I doing with my life’ moments,” said Daywalt. “I decided I was going to pursue the thing that I always wanted to be, and I went back to school and got my teaching degree.”

No stranger to change, Daywalt had no problem adjusting to her third career. The transition was made easier by the fact that she always knew that she belonged in the classroom, helping students learn and changing their lives.

Finally where she has always wanted to be, Daywalt has thrived both inside the classroom and in various other positions at North Penn. She has been an assistant principal, the head of the Social Studies Department, and the head of the Home and School Association. She has also been involved with a steering committee and a committee dedicated to closing the achievement gap for North Penn students.

“I like change,” said Daywalt, referring to her participation in various activities.

Just this year, Daywalt became involved with the gifted program at North Penn, spending two periods a day as a gifted support teacher.

“It’s been a really nice, positive change. I teach for four classes a day, and then I get to do something totally different,” said Daywalt about working with gifted students.

Daywalt remains busy outside of school as well by spending time with her family, which she says is “the most important thing.”

“Most of my time [outside of school] has been spent fussing over my two children, but they’re a little older now,” said Daywalt.

Soon, another change will be occurring for Daywalt: next fall, her son will be heading off to college, the thought of which admittedly makes her “panic-stricken.”

But, as she has through all of life’s changes, Daywalt has remained positive.

“I’m a glass half-full kind of person,” said Daywalt. “Somewhere inside me I always believe that whatever that new thing is that’s around the corner, I tend to believe that it’s going to be something good rather than something bad.”