麻豆直播

Those bells are a familiar sound for Cortazzo 鈥� he鈥檚 heard them during every shift of his nearly four-decade career with 麻豆直播 Public Safety. He鈥檚 now a sergeant and runs the daylight shift.
 
Before his arrival on the Bluff, Cortazzo received his undergraduate degree in education in 1980 and taught part-time. He also worked a second job as a police officer in Wilmerding, Pa., to support his growing family.
 
Cortazzo decided to return to school in January 2023 to pursue an Education Administration Certificate in the School of Education. With a keen sense of what he wants to achieve and the impact he can make, he plans to use his certificate to become an advocate for education and to enhance his role as a longstanding school board member.

鈥淚鈥檓 looking to go back to my first love, which was education. When I started class, I thought it might interfere with my work and school board responsibilities,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 found that it鈥檚 enhanced everything.鈥�
 
Cortazzo embraces the lifelong learning opportunities at Duquesne and enjoys studying alongside his classmates, many of whom are early in their careers or recent college graduates. Together, they鈥檙e making enduring connections and challenging each other 鈥� and themselves.
 
鈥淚鈥檓 bringing something to the table and they鈥檙e bringing something to me.鈥�
 
He recognizes that today鈥檚 education system is different from what he experienced as a teacher in the 1980s, and he embraces these changes.
 
鈥淲e teach differently now. We do things differently in schools,鈥� Cortazzo said. 鈥淭here are generations between me and many of my classmates. They help me learn so much about how I deal with people and what questions to ask.鈥�
 
Cortazzo, who Duquesne students warmly refer to as 鈥淪arge,鈥� also enjoys sharing his educational journey with the campus community. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a buzz around campus,鈥� he smiled. 鈥淪arge鈥檚 in grad school.鈥�
 
He also has the support of his family, including two grandchildren who are college students. 鈥淚鈥檓 going to school at the same time as my grandchildren,鈥� Cortazzo said. 鈥淎nd it鈥檚 just exciting. I鈥檓 not too old to learn. I鈥檓 not too old to pick things up.鈥�
 
In the classroom and on campus, Cortazzo leads by example. When he鈥檚 not writing papers or sharing insights with classmates, he鈥檚 on the Bluff promoting a safe campus environment and forming lasting relationships with students. This often comes through volunteer work 鈥� he enjoys serving late-night breakfast during study days and handing out Halloween candy.
 
鈥淚 enjoy hearing current students tell prospective students and their parents that they feel safe at Duquesne. It鈥檚 a proud moment when you hear that from the people you protect.鈥�
 
Cortazzo also prides himself on fostering an environment where students feel safe enjoying campus and all aspects of the city.
 
But when the Chapel bells strike 6 p.m., he鈥檚 back in the classroom participating in important conversations that he鈥檒l use to improve the future of education 鈥� it鈥檚 what he values most.
 
鈥淒on鈥檛 worry so much about grades. Just get to class. And try to beat the bells sometimes,鈥� he laughed.