LINDSAY CROWLEY NAMED A SEMIFINALIST FOR THE 2018 PA TEACHER OF THE YEAR
IMS STAFF TO RECEIVE STEPP AWARD
BETHEL PARK MUSIC TEACHER TO RECEIVE PMEA CITATION OF EXCELLENCE
ethel Park
BETHEL PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT
LINDSAY CROWLEY NAMED A SEMIFINALIST FOR THE 2018 PA TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Franklin Elementary School Third Grade Teacher Lindsay Crowley has been named one of 33 Semifinalists for the 2018 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year .
She is now in consideration to be named one of the 12 Finalists who will be honored by the Pennsylvania Department of Education later this year .
Mrs . Crowley has been teaching
Lindsay Crowley for 11 years , the past 10 in the
Bethel Park School District . She began her career in Bethel Park as a Foreign Language Teacher at Neil Armstrong Middle School . For the past six years , she has taught third grade at Franklin Elementary School .
She joins eight other Bethel Park teachers who have been recognized in this program since 2008 . They are : Franklin Elementary Fourth Grade Teacher Katherine Meucci ( 2017 Semifinalist and Finalist ), Bethel Park High School Marketing Teacher Emily Smoller ( 2017 Semifinalist and Finalist ), Bethel Park High School English Teacher Nicola Hipkins ( 2014 Semifinalist and Finalist ), Bethel Park High School Science Teacher Clyde Qualk ( 2013 and 2014 Semifinalist ), Bethel Park High School English Teacher Christopher Jack ( 2012 Semifinalist and Finalist ), William Penn Fourth Grade Teacher Kathryn Clifford ( 2011 Semifinalist ), Bethel Park High School English Teacher Charles Youngs ( 2009 Semifinalist and Finalist ) and retired William Penn Kindergarten Teacher Cindy Buckley ( 2008 Semifinalist ).
Congratulations Mrs . Crowley !
IMS STAFF TO RECEIVE STEPP AWARD
Independence Middle School teachers Carol Chonoska , Kristen Fonda , Cara Hritz , Jennifer Makel and Principal David Muench will receive the 2017 Scott E . Folmer Memorial Student , Teacher and Exemplary Practice or Partnering ( STEPP ) Award in the School category .
This award , which is sponsored by the Local Task Force on the Right to education ( LTF3 ), recognizes those who provide outstanding support to children who are receiving Special Education Services in Allegheny County .
The award will be presented on Wednesday , May 3 at Steel Valley High School .
They were nominated by parent Bob Doman , who has been impressed with how the IMS teachers have worked with his son , Brock , to help him grow academically . He also credits the regular communication with Mr . Muench to ensuring that his son is having a great experience at IMS .
“ I nominated these individuals because they went above and beyond what would be expected to help my son ,” said Mr . Doman . “ Everyone at Independence Middle School is great . Everybody deserves credit for Brock ’ s success , and that ’ s why I nominated the school for this award .”
52 Bethel Park
BETHEL PARK MUSIC TEACHER TO RECEIVE PMEA CITATION OF EXCELLENCE
Neil Armstrong Middle School Band Director Rachel Skilone has been selected to receive the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association ’ s District One Citation of Excellence .
This award is given annually to one music teacher in each of the PMEA Districts . District One includes all school districts in Allegheny , Washington ,
Rachel Skilone
Westmoreland , Greene and Fayette Counties .
At Neil Armstrong , Mrs . Skilone directs the Fifth and Sixth Grade Bands . She also directs the after school weekly Sixth Grade Jazz Band and organizes community-based music events for her students , including Woodwind , Brass and Percussion Days .
Mrs . Skilone is an active member of PMEA , currently serving as the District One Music Fest Coordinator .
“ Rachel has set high expectations for her bands and also creates strong bonds with each of her students ,” explained Bethel Park Fourth and Fifth Grade Band Teacher Jeff Knell . “ It is not uncommon for Rachel to model three or four different instruments with an excellent sound within a five minute span in her classes , nor is it uncommon for her to work through lunch , plan periods , before school or after school with students who need extra assistance .”
This is the sixth time that Bethel Park has received a STEPP Award since 2007 . Previous winners include Independence Middle School Speech and Language Teacher Lynne Surrena ( 2014 ); former Franklin Elementary , now Bethel Park High School Special Education Teacher Jennifer Kaminski Yeckel ( 2012 ); retired Neil Armstrong Middle School Special Education Teacher Jean Harrington ( 2010 ); and Bethel Park High School students Alyssa Perkins ( 2007 ), Audrey , Maggie Donnelly and Kaitlyn Wagner ( 2013 ).
( Left to right ): Kristen Fonda , Cara Hritz , Carol Chonoska and David Muench will accept the 2017 STEPP Award in the School Category . Absent : Jennifer Makel .