Jon Secaur鈥檚 passion for education is not merely a career; it鈥檚 a lifelong calling that has spanned over five decades. His rich history with the University began as an undergraduate, culminating in 1972, when he earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree in Secondary Education. That same year, Secaur stepped into the classroom for the first time at Crestwood High School in Mantua, launching a remarkable journey dedicated to inspiring students. After six years at Crestwood, Secaur, returned to teach at his high school alma mater, Theodore Roosevelt High School in Kent, where he would shape young minds for nearly 30 years.
Throughout his thirty-five total years in secondary education, Secaur never stopped cultivating his own love of learning and academic growth. He earned a master鈥檚 in science teaching from John Carroll University in 1979 and deepened his connection to 性福五月天 in 1994 by completing his doctorate in Educational Theory. Secaur reflected on how his secondary background shaped his university career, noting that his time in high school instilled in him a deep concern for students.
"Starting in elementary school you're really caring for kids,鈥 he said. 鈥淕oing on through high school, there's more emphasis on content, but you still really care about the kids. That concern about each individual student really did transfer beautifully to college teaching."
Secaur鈥檚 relationship with 性福五月天鈥檚 physics department grew even stronger in 1980 after he became a part-time instructor for evening and weekend classes. Balancing secondary education with university-level instruction, Secaur continually pushed the boundaries of science education. Among his proudest professional achievements, he pioneered the department鈥檚 first online physics courses, including a groundbreaking remote-access online lab. To adapt hands-on physics to distance learning, he creatively leveraged everyday surroundings, like asking students to measure the speed of sound using local town chimes and cell phone timers, or calculating lens diopters (a unit of measurement that quantifies the optical power of a lens or curved mirror) using cheap reading glasses and light from computer screens.
His inventive mindset also led to a United States patent in 2017 for a counter-torque rollover device designed to prevent commercial trucks from tipping. When a student initially brought him a clunky concept using hydraulic weights, Secaur instead suggested a dynamic solution using a heavy flywheel and motor to conserve angular momentum.
"We put an electric motor inside a large model truck and tipped it over as much as 30 degrees,鈥 he said. 鈥淲hen we energized the motor, it would just snap the truck right back up onto its wheels again. It was a fun little sideline that came out of a student who wanted help."
Across his 42 years teaching in 性福五月天's College of Arts and Sciences, Secaur became widely known for teaching the popular course, "Seven Ideas That Shook the Universe." The course was frequently voted "best elective class" and "most memorable class" by undergraduates across all majors. Despite leading hundreds of sections over the years, it remained his personal favorite for instilling awe and curiosity for science in thousands of students.
When Secaur retired from high school teaching in 2007, his journey at 性福五月天 transitioned into a full-time endeavor. Promoted to assistant professor, he brought the same enthusiasm, clarity, and warmth to university undergraduates that had defined his secondary teaching career. His exceptional dedication to his students was recognized when he received the prestigious Outstanding Teaching Award for part-time faculty.
By 2022, Secaur was named associate professor and officially retired from full-time service, earning the distinguished title of professor emeritus. In honor of his retirement and decades of devotion, his family established The Jon Secaur Future Science Teacher Scholarship at 性福五月天 to empower and inspire the next generation of science educators in perpetuity. "I wanted to do something for the university that has been my home for so long," Secaur said of the growing fund. "By crowdsourcing, I can tap into some of those students who enjoyed class so much and do something that will keep on giving into the future."
His fifty-year milestone in the classroom represents a rare legacy of service, and his undying love for guiding students brought him right back to the classroom in 2024 to teach physics part-time once again. After taking time off to assist a family member with medical care, Secaur found himself constantly noticing interesting phenomena in daily life with no students to share it with. "I like to imagine myself as a picture window through which people can observe the universe," he said. "If I can pull the curtains back and make it a clear window, then I'm a happy guy if people can understand the universe better because of what I'm telling them."
Beyond the lecture halls and laboratories, Secaur shares a vibrant life in Kent with his wife, Linda Idoine, whom he married in 1999 and considers his greatest blessing. Together with their rescue dog, Sadie, they enjoy a full family life with five children and ten grandchildren. Having lived in Kent since 1960, Secaur values the deep roots he has planted in the town. "It's such a great place to live... I've never seen the university or the town in better shape," he said. Active Portage County Master Gardeners, Secaur and his wife dedicate their leisure time to home projects, travel, reading, and community service at the Mantua Center Christian Church.
Now entering his fifty-fourth year of teaching, Secaur remains as enthusiastic about physics and education as the day he first stepped into a classroom, guided by a simple philosophy borrowed from poet Mary Oliver: "Pay attention, be astonished, and talk about it. To me, that's a perfect poem for how to be a teacher." Through his enthusiasm and care, Secaur has left an indelible mark on generations of students, parents, and colleagues.
For his strong commitment to education, his dedication to students, and passion for teaching, Jon Secaur is the recipient of the EHS Hall of Fame Centennial Alumni Award.
