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Professional Development

April 6, 2015 & October 30, 2015

  • Megan Kirkpatrick

  • Kate Andrews

  • Alyssa Fry

  • Lucinda Wracher

  • Alyson Keough

  • Amanda Sepp

  • Brianna Cramer

  • Danielle Pagano

  • Thomas Trapp

Math PAPA Workshop

David Postlethwait, a University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg SPSEA Member and a Secondary Math Education student, presented a workshop to help prepare students who would be soon taking their Math PAPA exam. During this workshop, David discussed specific ways to prepare for the exam by distributing a practice PAPA test as well as equation sheet. The workshop continued as those in attendance were given helpful tips for how to take the test and remain relaxed in order to successfully pass their exam.

Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA members in attendance:

  • Chyna Cunningham

  • Mackenzie Janda

  • Witney Larko

  • Gabby Revenis

  • Kylee Rothwell

  • Shelby Povlick

  • Abby Pasierb

  • Frank Laspin

  • Haley Langel

Special Education Transition Workshop

In conjunction with Southmoreland and Mt. Pleasant School Districts, Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA held special education workshops focusing on issues important to teachers, parents, and preservice teachers. For this third and final joint workshop of the 2014-2015 year, Westmoreland Intermediate Unit’s Transition Coordinator, Mindy McMahon, shared information on the transition process for students with disabilities, including those bound for college or post-high school training and those who would focus on work and life skills.

Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA members in attendance:

  • Samantha Nagel

  • Tori Phillips

  • Gabby Revenis

  • Witney Larko

  • Chyna Cunningham

 

April 7, 2015

  • Michelle Etling

  • Elias Imbrogno

  • Frank Laspin

  • Allisha Ziegler

  • Bryan McFeeley

 

SPSEA Annual Conference

Thirty-two students from the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg’s SPSEA attended the Annual SPSEA Conference that was held in Grantville, Pennsylvania.  The students who attended the conference had the opportunity to participate in professional development workshops and hear from some very inspirational speakers. We also bonded as a group, planned some events for the 2015-2016 academic year, and got excited about teaching!

April 9-11, 2015

Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA members in attendance:

  • Bryan Edwards

  • Billy Meyers

  • Jack Hunter

  • Laura Krunszyinsky

  • Zachary Simms

  • Rebecca Nannini

  • Brianna McKeag

  • David Postlethwait

  • Chris Shtur

  • Ashley Muscarella

  • Courtney Tuite

 

  • Ashleigh Peck

  • Danielle Gordon

  • Tory Popovich

  • Zac Stevens

  • Zacheri Mozingo

  • Joseph Ortman

  • Justin Himler

  • Thomas Trapp

  • Sam Nagel

  • Kelsey Campbell

  • Frank Laspin

  • Witney Larko

  • Jessica Williams

  • Alyssa Gavron

  • Michelle Etling

  • Alyssa Kucsmas

  • Rebecca McHugh

  • Kierstin Brown

  • Bryan Edwards

  • Gabrielle Maldonato

  • Brianna Cramer

Fort Ligonier Workshop

Our Southwest Region President, Bryan Edwards, worked at Fort Ligonier as a costumed docent for school aged tours. He arranged for SPSEA members of the southwest region to visit Fort Ligonier and learn not only the historical significance of the place, but also learn how to plan and implement a well-run field trip. This was our SPSEA chapter’s second visit to Fort Ligonier due to the valuable and important information the workshop had to offer to our future careers.

Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA members in attendance:

  • Bryan Edwards

  • Ashley Muscarella

  • Zach Simms

  • Elias Imbrogno

  • Sam Nagel

  • Zac Stevens

  • Bryan McFeeley

April 17, 2015

  • Allisha Ziegler

  • Justin Himler

  • Michelle Etling

  • Jack Hunter

  • Billy Myers

  • Laura Krunszyisky

Special Education Conference

The UPG chapter of SPSEA in conjunction with Mount Pleasant and Southmoreland School Districts hosted a one-day special education conference. The main focus of the conference was how to best reach students with special needs in inclusion classrooms. Throughout the day, there were various breakout sessions including ones focused on universal design, progress monitoring, and the inclusion model. Members who attended the event said the information was helpful in explaining opportunities and support that can be provided for special education students during school as well as after they graduate. Practicing teachers and SPSEA members from anywhere in the state were invited to this event.

August 17, 2015

Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA members in attendance:

  • Frank Laspin

  • David Postlethwait

  • Zach Simms

  • Bryan Edwards

  • Eli Imbrogno

  • Michelle Etling

Servant Leadership Workshop

October 6, 2015

Chris Clayton, Assistant Director for Education Services for the Pennsylvania State Education Association, traveled to the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg to provide a workshop about leadership in schools. He discussed the importance of teachers having influence rather than power in their classrooms. He quoted, “One life touches another and potentially both lives are changed; one life touches another and potentially the whole world is changed.”

Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA members in attendance:

  • Bryan Edwards

  • Ashley Muscarella

  • Elias Imbrogno

  • Michelle Etling

  • Zachary Simms

  • David Postlethwait

  • Brandon Harclerode

  • Zakary Carson

  • Samantha Pritts

  • Francis Laspin

  • Kasey McIntosh

  • PJ Dumnich

  • Shannon Lieu

  • Amanda Sepp

  • Andrew McDonald

  • Christian Hyland

  • MacKenzie Janda

  • Joshua Koreniowski

  • Stephen Barnhart

"What Every Teacher Needs To Know"

October 8, 2015

Several of our Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA members traveled to California University to hear Chris Clayton, Assistant Director for Education Services for the Pennsylvania State Education Association, give a seminar about what every teacher needs to know before entering the field.  Our members found the workshop very beneficial the previous year, and some even came to hear Mr. Clayton’s seminar for a second time! One of our members said that the best advice that Mr. Clayton gave to our students was to be professional everywhere that you go and to take every opportunity that comes your way.​

Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA members in attendance:

  • Bryan Edwards

  • Ashley Muscarella

  • David Postlethwait

  • Sam Nagel

  • Eli Imbrogno

  • Jack Hunter

  • Kate Andrews

  • Zach Simms

  • Laura Krunszyinsky

  • Christopher Shtur

Safety in the Classroom

November 2, 2015

Junior SPSEA member, Jaymee Humbert, organized a workshop that focused on safety in the classroom. She invited Officer Frank E. Starko from the Moon Township Police Department and Tactical Team Leader at SHACOG CIRT. Officer Starko discussed the reality of teachers having to be prepared for emergency situations. He talked to us about school shootings and how to handle that situation in order to keep our students as safe as possible.

Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA members in attendance:

  • Kierstin Brown

  • Catherine Kindt

  • Julie Kindt

  • Madison Rinker

  • Jessica Williams

  • Alyssa Gavron

  • Kate Andrews

  • Jaymee Humbert

  • Alyssa Kucsmas

 

  • Brittany Smither

  • Morgan Anderson

  • Christian Hyland

  • Ashley Muscarella

  • Alyson Keough

  • Kasey McIntosh

  • Danielle Futules

  • PJ Dumnich

  • Bryan Edwards

  • Laura Whelan

  • Zachary Simms                                    

  • Kaylee Bachorski

  • Elias Imbrogno                                     

  • Laura Krunszyinsky

  • Francesca Decarlo

  • Alyssa Fry

  • Bethany Lowe

  • Jack Hunter

  • Amanda Sepp                                        

  • Sammi Cook

  • David Postlethwait                               

  • Hayley Hulbert

  • Chyna Cunningham

Author Workshop

November 3, 2015

Katie Humphrey is an award-winning entrepreneur, professional speaker, and author of Elizabeth Hazel and the Day of Desires. She visited our campus to share information with our SPSEA members about becoming an author, believing in yourself, and making positive choices. Using her book’s message, she expressed, “Through our individual strengths and flaws we each hold an incredible amount of worth, value, and purpose.”

Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA members in attendance:

  • Michelle Etling

  • David Postlethwait

  • Zach Simms

  • Laura Krunszyinsky

  • Sam Nagel

  • Zak Carson

Special Education Workshop

November 11, 2015

Susan McDonald, UPG professor of English and founder of the former KARAT School of Learning, provided a workshop about teaching strategies to reach every student. She explained how it is not our jobs as teachers to convey information, but to bring relevance to their learning. She quoted, “It is most important that we value who our students are and teach them that whatever they want to be, they can achieve it through hard work and perseverance.”

Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA members in attendance:

  • Michelle Etling

  • Ashley Muscarella

  • Brandon Harclerode

  • Bryan Edwards

  • David Postlethwait

  • Francis Laspin

  • Jack Hunter

  • Zach Simms

Portfolio Share

November 13, 2015

Our upperclassmen SPSEA members brought their professional teaching portfolios to our annual Portfolio Share.  At this meeting, the younger members of our club had the opportunity to look through these recommended portfolios and receive ideas for their own professional portfolios.  Also, the upperclassmen members got the chance to give each other feedback and constructive criticism on how to improve their professional teaching portfolio.

Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA members in attendance:

  • Bryan Edwards

  • Thomas Trapp

  • Michelle Etling

  • David Postlethwait

  • Alyssa Kucsmas

  • Francis Laspin

  • Kelsey Campbell

  • PJ Dumnich

  • Matti Tyskewicz

  • Jessica Williams

  • Madison Rinker

  • Alyssa Gavron

 

Slippery Rock Conference

November 21, 2015

Fifteen students from the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg’s SPSEA attended the Western/Southwestern Regional Conference at Slippery Rock University. The students who attended the conference had the opportunity to participate in professional development workshops including topics on classroom management, autism, and special education law. As well as hear from some very inspirational speakers.

Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA members in attendance:

  • Michelle Etling

  • Ashley Muscarella

  • David Postlethwait

  • Samantha Nagel

  • Amanda Sepp

  • Shannon Lieu

  • Thomas Trapp

  • Kierstin Brown

  • Witney Larko

  • Megan Kirkpatrick

  • Chloe Seiler

  • Francesca DeCarlo

  • Eli Imbrogno

  • Zach Simms

  • Bryan Edwards

New Teacher Workshop

January 21, 2016

2014 Pitt Greensburg early childhood education graduate and current 3rd grade teacher Mrs. Corey Funk, came to the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg to provide a workshop about being a new teacher. She discussed the importance of always being prepared especially for the unexpected. She informed our members on how to become a successful substitute teacher and what to expect. She also provided great resources for any new teacher to use within their classroom and during lesson planning.

Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA members in attendance:

  • Zach Simms

  • Michelle Etling

  • Frank Laspin

  • Danielle Pagano

  • Eric Gosney

  • Alyssa Gavron

  • Jessica Williams

  • Madison Rinker

  • Mindy Olive

  • Witney Larko

  • Gabby Revenis

  • Brittany Curry

  • MacKenzie Janda

  • James Gabonay

  • Ashley Muscarella

  • Laura Whelan

  • Sarah Skowronski

  • Kaylee Bachorski

  • Brittany Smither

  • Danielle Futules

  • Britanny Cardella

  • David Postelthwait

  • PJ Dumnich

  • Heather Paullet

  • Chris Shtur

  • Laura Krunszyinsky

Teacher Evaluation Workshop

February 11, 2016

Assistant Superintendent from Mount Pleasant Area School District, Dr. Ken Williams, came to the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg to provide a workshop about teacher evaluations. Participants were informed of the process for the new teacher evaluation system in Pennsylvania that includes the four domains of Charlotte Danielson's Framework for Professional Practice. Many students found it beneficial to learn about Act 82 of 2012,
as Dr. Williams provided a circle graph to represent the components of a classroom teachers’ evaluation.

Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA members in attendance:

  • Peyton Clark

  • Don Spanner

  • Sammi Cook

  • Madison Rinker

  • Jessica Williams

  • Alyssa Gavron

  • Brittani Malik

  • Witney Larko

  • Gabby Revenis

  • Hannah Cerk

  • Lucinda Wracher

  • Amanda Sepp

  • Sam Nagel

  • Eli Imbrogno

  • Laura Whelan

  • Sarah Skowronski

  • Kaylee Bachorski

  • Rebecca Muha

  • Kierstin Brown

  • Ashley Muscarella

  • James Gabonay

  • Heather Paullet

  • Ashley Lewandowski

  • Megan Lint

  • Francesca DeCarlo

  • Brittany Cardella

  • Danielle Futules

     

PSEA Workshop

February 25, 2016

Ashley Muscarella, a University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg SPSEA Member and the Student PSEA President, presented a workshop on the fundamentals of PSEA. She focused on the structure of PSEA, SPSEA, and NEA, talking specifically about unions and the importance of knowing your contract as a teacher. She concluded the workshop by giving participants advice on how we can defend our rights as teachers and future teachers.

Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA members in attendance:

  • Kate Andrews

  • Jack Hunter

  • Zak Carson

  • Sami Clayton

  • Brianna Cramer

  • Andrew McDonald

  • Lucinda Wracher

  • Alyson Keough

  • Rebecca Urban

  • Witney Larko

  • Mindy Olive

  • Gabby Revenis

  • Alyssa Gavron

  • Zach Simms

  • Laura Whelan

  • Sarah Skowronski

  • Kaylee Bachorski

  • Becca Muha

  • Heather Paullet

  • Ashley Lewandowski

  • Gabby Maldonato

  • Amanda Sepp

  • Laura Krunszyinsky

  • Brittany Smither

  • Brittany Cardella

  • Danielle Futules

  • Megan Lint

  • Sam Nagel

©2016 by Kelsey Campbell

University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg

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