Three area teachers honored by Chevron, Steelers
Three Greene County teachers were honored recently by Chevron and the Pittsburgh Steelers for their innovative approach to learning. West Greene Elementary School’s Tiffany Hart (pictured on left), IU1 Educational Campus’ Tracey Ross (center) and Greene County Career and Technology Center’s Daniel Wagner are winners of the Leaders in the Classroom initiative — a program that recognizes regional teachers for their work introducing STEM lessons in the classroom. Each teacher received a $1,000 classroom grant and will be recognized on the field at the Dec. 17 Steelers game. (Photos courtesy of Chevron)
WAYNESBURG – Three Greene County teachers were honored earlier this month by Chevron and the Pittsburgh Steelers for their innovative approach to learning.
West Greene Elementary School’s Tiffany Hart, Intermediate Unit 1 Educational Campus’ Tracey Ross, and Greene County Career and Technology Center’s Daniel Wagner are winners of the Leaders in the Classroom initiative – a program that recognizes 16 regional teachers for their work introducing STEM lessons in the classroom.
Each teacher received a $1,000 classroom grant and will be recognized on the field at the Dec. 17 Steelers game.
Tiffany Hart, nominated for the award by her husband, Tom Hart, is a kindergarten teacher and has the opportunity to set the stage and the tone for the beginning of her students’ academic career.
She has taught kindergarten for 25 years and has worked with various other teachers and administrators during her career. This year there were two new other kindergarten teachers at her school and over the summer, she reached out to them to assist them with their transition into their new roles, providing them materials, typical operational procedures, experience and overall guidance on what to expect while receiving their ideas and thoughts to incorporate for the coming school year.
Every year, there is a new innovation she will implement to encourage her students to absorb. This summer, while using a “superhero” theme, she constructed a “Bat Cave” reading center to encourage her students to enjoy the experience while developing a love for books.
Tracey Ross, nominated by Principal Dr. Kristin Szewczyk, is an instructional leader at the Intermediate Unit 1 Educational Campus at Waynesburg. In the area of innovation, Ross utilizes project-based learning and technology within her classroom on a daily basis. She seeks out community-based resources and research projects to provide increased learning opportunities for her students.
For example, Ross’s class was selected to participate in the Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) CREATE Lab Flutter Project, which involved the use robotics in her classroom. Ross sought out a research study through the University of Oregon involving the ABC Mouse program to improve her students’ literacy skills and she connects her lessons to real world situations to make them more meaningful to her students.
In her nomination, Szewczyk said, “Ross is a compassionate educator who teaches from the heart. She establishes professional rapport with each student and cares not only about her students’ academic success, but also physical and emotional well-being. When one of her students was diagnosed with a serious illness, Ross facilitated a committee to raise funds to support the student and family during the difficult time.”
Dan Wagner is the culinary arts instructor and FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) advisor for the past 15 years at the Greene County Career and Technology Center.
“To say that Dan Wagner is unorthodox is an understatement. To say that he is an outstanding dedicated instructor is also an understatement.” That assessment came from Nicholas Kovacic, a retired teacher at the Technology Center who nominated Wagner.
In his nomination, Kovacic said he had “the pleasure and opportunity to gain vast insight” into Wagner.
“I was personally involved with him and his program as his mentor and when many instructors try to remain within the confines of the classroom, Dan keeps expanding the students’ horizon into their future whether it be higher education or the work place,” Kovacic said. “He sets high standards for his students then helps them in achieving those standards. The pride, enthusiasm and dedication his students put forth is learned from his leadership and dedication to them. He is driven to make his students the best.”
He taught his students through hard work and ability they could achieve things never thought possible, Kovacic said. His students have gone on to regional employment at The Meadows Racetrack & Casino, Ditka’s Restaurant, Jacks Hard Cider, and Starbucks, Pittsburgh; Rolling Meadows Nursing Home, Wendy’s and McDonalds, Waynesburg. He has also inspired students to open businesses locally. One such business located in the Greene County Area is Willow Tree Farms, which sells pastries.
Wagner’s graduates have also gone on to higher learning enrolling and graduating from Waynesburg University, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Westmorland Community College, Sullivan University, Johnson & Wales and from the 2016 graduating class a student was accepted into the Congress-Bundestag Vocational Exchange Program.
Beyond the region, Wagner’s students have gone on to jobs at companies such as Private Chef, Napa California; DEGA Catering, Knoxville Tenn.; Turtle Bay Resorts, Honolulu Hawaii; Alpha Baking Co., Inc. Manitowoc, Wisc.; Coventry Village Retirement Community, Madison Wisc; Ruby Memorial Hospital, Morgantown, W.Va.
The culinary arts class also has been involved with various events outside the region, participating in five presidential inaugurations.
In its second season, the partnership between the Steelers and Chevron, which also receives support from The Grable Foundation and Intermediate Units 1 and 3, recognizes pre-K-12 teachers in western Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia who are making a significant difference in the lives of students by providing engaging instruction and curriculum, encouraging lifelong learning and inspiring a passion for education beyond the classroom.
“Chevron is very excited to again work with the Pittsburgh Steelers, The Grable Foundation, IU1 and AIU to recognize exceptional teachers, inspire the sharing of ideas and highlight innovative teaching strategies that engage students in ways that connect learning to a future career or new educational pathway,” said Trip Oliver, Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Chevron Appalachia, in a release recently issued by Chevron. “We received an incredible number of nominations of outstanding teachers last season and we’re excited to have this opportunity to honor and support more of our region’s great teachers.”
The Leaders in the Classroom program is part of the Appalachia Partnership Initiative, a $20 million social investment launched by Chevron in 2014.