Quaker Success: Redefining What It Means to Succeed

Craig Berger, Aaron Berger, and Ed Butch

Quaker Success is a podcast hosted by Salem High School (Ohio) alumni Craig Berger '02, Aaron Berger '05, and Ed Butch '02 in partnership with the Salem High School Alumni Association. Each episode consists of a conversation with a Quaker alum that touches on their SHS memories, personal and professional experiences since graduating, and whether they believe they have achieved success. In the first season, each guest was voted "Most Likely to Succeed" by their classmates during their senior year.

  1. Sep 7

    Season 3, Episode 1: Jason Greenamyer '02

    In the first episode of our third season, we speak with Jason Greenamyer from the Class of 2002. Jason is a professional magician who performs alongside his wife, Stacy, as the husband-and-wife duo The Alans. Jason has performed professionally for nearly two decades, taking his career from birthday parties and libraries to cruise ships and stages around the country. In our conversation, Jason recounts growing up in a working-class Salem family and describes a childhood spent playing sports, working alongside his family, and making frequent trips to the Salem Public Library--a place he credits with helping spark the interest in magic that would eventually become his career. Jason reflects candidly on struggling academically, the teachers who found ways to connect learning to his interests, and his experience as a three-sport athlete at SHS. He also describes a winding college journey that took him from Thiel College to Youngstown State University, where he competed in track and field before his growing interest in performing magic began pulling him in a different direction. We also learn about Jason's decidedly unconventional path to becoming a full-time magician--including getting booed before his first major performance, driving back and forth to Cleveland for gigs, sleeping in his car between shows, and eventually performing aboard cruise ships. Jason shares how the work ethic he learned growing up in Salem helped him turn a passion into a business, how his wife eventually left her career to join him in creating The Alans, and the risks, sacrifices, and persistence required to build the life they have today. We hope you enjoy! Follow "Quaker Success: Redefining What It Means to Succeed" wherever you get your podcasts.

  2. Jul 20 ·  Bonus

    Quaker Success Shorts: Stories Among Friends -- The Story Behind Salem's Name

    Quaker Success Shorts: Stories Among Friends is a bonus series under the Quaker Success umbrella, offering brief, scripted episodes that shine a light on stories of interest to Salem High School alumni and are told entirely by your hosts, Craig, Aaron, and Ed. In these narrative-driven stories, we explore different lives, events, and phenomena, weaving together the details into a short-form experience. These episodes are snapshots—quieter, tighter, and a little different from our longer-form interviews, but rooted in the same spirit of community, curiosity, and Quaker pride. Our second episode in this series examines how Salem's athletic teams came to be known as "the Quakers."  We'll "see" you in September when we'll release the first episode of our third season.  Follow "Quaker Success: Redefining What It Means to Succeed" wherever you get your podcasts.

    Quaker Success Shorts: Stories Among Friends -- The Story Behind Salem's Name

  3. Mar 10

    Season 2, Episode 6: Matt Mowery '03

    We continue our "Quakers Teaching Quakers" theme as we speak with Matt Mowery from the Class of 2003 in our sixth episode of the season. Matt currently serves as a mathematics teacher at Salem High School and is also the head girls basketball coach. Matt and his wife Brooke, who teaches second grade at Buckeye Elementary, are raising their two children here in Salem. Please note that this conversation was recorded last summer. In our conversation, Matt reflects on growing up in Salem with deep family roots in the community and describes his path through Salem City Schools—from preschool at First Christian Church to Reilly Elementary, Southeast Elementary, Salem Junior High School, and ultimately Salem High School. Matt shares memories of playing sports with friends around town, participating in band, choir, and basketball, and how influential teachers—especially math teacher Mr. Alejars—helped transform his relationship with mathematics and inspired him to pursue a career in education. We also learn about Matt's time at the University of Mount Union, where he majored in mathematics and became involved in sports broadcasting through WRMU, even calling two national championship football games during his time on campus. Matt also walks us through the early years of his teaching career at United Local Schools, where he spent more than a decade teaching mathematics and coaching basketball. Along the way, he reflects on the challenges and growth that came with becoming a head basketball coach at a young age, the personal hardships he navigated during those years, and the lessons that shaped his perspective as both an educator and mentor. Matt later continued his professional development by earning a Master's Degree in Educational Administration from Ashland University in 2011. Finally, Matt shares what it meant to return home in 2021 to teach at Salem High School, reflecting on how education and students have changed over the past two decades while emphasizing the enduring importance of relationships, high standards, and community pride. We also hear about his involvement with the Salem Athletic Hall of Fame and his belief that success is ultimately defined by the positive impact we have on others, our families, and our communities. We hope you enjoy! Follow Quaker Success: Redefining What It Means to Succeed wherever you get your podcasts.

  4. Jan 20

    Season 2, Episode 5: Shelley Miller Wilson '97

    Our latest episode features Shelley Miller Wilson from the Class of 1997, whose personal and professional journey reflects a deep commitment to education, community, and service. Shelley currently serves as a K–12 Literacy Specialist at Salem City Schools, after beginning her career as a kindergarten teacher and spending many years in the classroom. Outside of work, Shelley is a proud mom of three and continues to balance family life with a career centered on helping students and teachers thrive. In our conversation, Shelley reflects on growing up in Salem, describing a childhood filled with bike rides around town, Booster Club sticker duty at Quaker sporting events, and strong family ties to Salem City Schools that stretch back multiple generations. She walks us through her unique path through nearly every Salem school building, her deep involvement in high school activities including cheerleading, athletic training, Key Club, yearbook, Spanish Club, and choir, and how early signs of her passion for teaching were present long before she realized education was her calling. Shelley shares her college journey to Bowling Green State University, where she studied elementary education, joined a sorority, and found her leadership voice through Dance Marathon. She discusses the challenges and growth that came with leaving home, earning two master's degrees, navigating early career setbacks, and ultimately returning to Salem in a role that allows her to support both teachers and students. Shelley closes by reflecting on the rewards and challenges of being a literacy specialist, her enduring love for the classroom, and her belief that at the heart of both the Salem and West Branch communities is a shared commitment to putting kids first. We hope you enjoy! Follow Quaker Success: Redefining What It Means to Succeed wherever you get your podcasts.

  5. 12/10/2025

    Season 2, Episode 4: Sean Kirkland '86

    We continue our "Quakers Teaching Quakers" theme as we speak with Sean Kirkland from the Class of 1986 in our fourth episode of the season. Sean serves as Superintendent in the Salem City School District. In our conversation, we learned about Sean's experience growing up on the west side of Salem, attending Prospect School, and experiencing the City of Salem back in the 1970s and '80s (playing outside and not coming home until the street lights turn on). Sean spoke about the tough times his family experienced, the wild turns his athletic career would take--both in high school and college, and the influence a few great teachers had on him that led him to realize education was the career path for him.  We also learn about Sean's rough first day of his first full-time teaching role, how he was ten minutes away from becoming a West Branch Warrior, and his experience moving from teaching Industrial Tech to sitting at the Superintendent's desk. We hope you enjoy! Be sure to tune into the intro for a few reports regarding the Salem High School Alumni Association's classroom grant program and the Career Day program for Salem sophomores.  Follow "Quaker Success: Redefining What It Means to Succeed" wherever you get your podcasts.

  6. 11/11/2025

    Season 2, Episode 3: Teresa Huzyak Sisson '02

    Our third episode of the season continues our "Quakers Teaching Quakers" theme, as we speak with Teresa Huzyak Sisson from the Class of 2002. Teresa is currently a third grade teacher at St. Paul School in Salem. In her free time, Teresa loves hanging out with her two sweet kids, reading too many books at once, and watching documentaries. In our conversation, Teresa recounts her experience growing up in a large family and describes her path to graduation from SHS, including her experience attending St. Paul School through sixth grade and transitioning to the junior high and high school. As we learn, Teresa's professional journey started with a plan to major in Integrated Literature Education at the beginning of her college experience, continued through her earning a bachelor and master degree in Sociology at area universities, and then shifted after becoming involved in administering a research project that persuaded her to become an educator. Teresa then reflects on her greatest success, the lessons from her teaching life that spill into life outside of school, and the advice she has for current SHS students. We hope you enjoy!   We want to once again thank our partner the Salem High School Alumni Association for their support of this podcast. Follow "Quaker Success: Redefining What It Means to Succeed" wherever you get your podcasts.

  7. 10/21/2025

    Season 2, Episode 2: Dennis Niederhiser '71 & Jarrod Niederhiser '04

    In the second episode of our second season titled "Quakers Teaching Quakers," we speak with a father and son duo: Dennis Niederhiser '71 and Jarrod Niederhiser '04. We spent time getting to know the stories of each Niederhiser. We talked with Denny about growing up in Salem in the 1950s and 1960s, his educational journey, and the importance of doing whatever it took to make sure students learned what they needed to learn. We spoke with Jarrod about his experience growing up in Salem in the 1990s and early 2000s (with a well-known principal as a father), his process of identifying education as the career for him, and the importance of meeting students where they are to get them excited about learning. We also got into favorite Salem restaurants--past and present, favorite Salem memories, and what it was like to work alongside their former teachers as colleagues.  Follow "Quaker Success: Redefining What It Means to Succeed" wherever you get your podcasts.

  8. 09/08/2025

    Season 2, Episode 1: George Spack '69

    In the first episode of our new season titled "Quakers Teaching Quakers," we speak with George Spack '69--a proud Salem High School alum whose career and life journey have been marked by a passion for teaching, supporting students as they strengthen their character and discipline, and fostering community spirit. We spoke with George about what it was like growing up in Salem in the 1950s and '60s, his Quaker basketball career, his journey to and time spent at the College of William and Mary, and his path into coaching and education. George described challenges he navigated throughout his life experience and also reflected on what it was like to return to Salem as a teacher. George also offered insights into what success has meant to him. Be sure to check out the intro for information about the Salem High School Alumni Association Classroom Grants that are available for Salem City Schools educators! Follow "Quaker Success: Redefining What It Means to Succeed" wherever you get your podcasts.

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About

Quaker Success is a podcast hosted by Salem High School (Ohio) alumni Craig Berger '02, Aaron Berger '05, and Ed Butch '02 in partnership with the Salem High School Alumni Association. Each episode consists of a conversation with a Quaker alum that touches on their SHS memories, personal and professional experiences since graduating, and whether they believe they have achieved success. In the first season, each guest was voted "Most Likely to Succeed" by their classmates during their senior year.

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