‘Educators of Year’ honored at special reception
The spotlight shown Wednesday on a group of people named responsible for making a difference in Fayette County schools. Honored as “Educators of the Year,” the eight individuals received accolades and awards during a reception at the Uniontown Holiday Inn sponsored by the Fayette Chamber of Commerce and titled Education Works!
Fayette Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Muriel J. Nuttall said the event, sponsored in cooperation with the Greater Brownsville and Greater Connellsville chambers of commerce, was a celebration of excellence in teaching. She said the chambers of commerce have a vested interest in their school systems as an aspect of the economy in the midst of a changing workplace and higher standards for students.
“If they cannot compete in the global economy, they will be left behind, whether they stay here or not,” Nuttall said. “It’s absolutely critical that our students, our children, be able to compete in this global economy.”
She said the task of educating students to meet the demands is not done alone, She said it is easy to burn out and that is why the chamber of commerce celebrates the field of teaching.
“We know they are heroes every day and deserve to be highlighted,” she said.
Lillian Cale, chairwoman of the chamber’s education council, referred to the honorees as Olympic athletes who hold the torch for others.
The 2001-2002 Educators of the Year are: Diane Guappone, band director, Albert Gallatin South Middle School; Tricia Rohlf, ninth-grade English, Brownsville High School; Donald Grenaldo, computer literacy instructor, Connellsville Junior High East; LaVerne Love, kindergarten to fifth-grade learning support teacher, Perry Elementary School, Frazier; Marti Hill, math teacher, Laurel Highlands Junior High School (sponsored by Robert and Marilyn Garbart); Craig Cheselske, fifth-grade teacher, Marclay Elementary School, Uniontown (sponsored by Laurel Business Institute); Gerald Petrucci, building construction occupations instructor, Fayette County Area Vocational-Technical School (sponsored by Verizon Communications); and Marvin Hughes, support personnel, George J. Plava Elementary School, Albert Gallatin.
The first introduction was of Hill whom her colleague, Madalyn Johnson, said is “an expert at extracting the best from her students.” Johnson said Hill has the traits that she would like to some day possess.
Hill has taught over 31 years. She said she has always been proud of her profession because her parents placed importance on education.
“My father was proud of me and my sister. He always said ‘My two girls are teachers.’ You would have thought we found a cure for cancer,” Hill said.
Frank Korona introduced his colleague, Petrucci, whom he said has done an outstanding job in his nine years at the vo-tech. He talked about community projects by Petrucci and his students and how well the students have learned under Petrucci’s guidance.
“We put students out there who are very successful,” Petrucci said of the staff at the school. “You want the students to be happy and good, productive students. It’s good for them and good for the community.”
Petrucci said he worked 23 years in his family’s construction business before teaching.
Albert Gallatin students Amanda Geary and Marissa Stevens said Guappone shared with them her passion for music and gave them pride.
Guappone in turn said she has had the privilege of working with many talented and dedicated students. She said she was humbled that students would think so much of her to nominate her for the award.
“I’m so fortunate to share my love of music with students so eager to learn,” she said.
“Few people have the opportunity to live their dream and find true contentment in their job,” said Rohlf.
Rohlf, who is sophomore class sponsor and musical director besides her teaching duties, said she is living her dream. Principal Richard Gates introduced her as someone who “goes above and beyond” when asked and is always there for her students.
Rohlf said she worked 12 years in private industry before entering the field of education but always wanted to be a teacher and she was proud of her father who was a teacher.
In the classroom 25 years, Grenaldo said he thanks God for the opportunity to be in this noble profession and noted teachers are successful because of all who support them.
Grenaldo said someone asked him recently what he would say if God asked him what he would like to do every day to be happy.
“I said I would get up and unlock my classroom door,” he said.
He was introduced by his wife and colleague, Kathy Grenaldo, who said Grenaldo stands for and teaches respect, standards and responsibility.
Principal Ken Meadows said Love lives up to her last name and the love she has for her job is evident every day.
Twenty-nine years in special education, Love talked about the changes she has seen in the methods of teaching. She said she started with a self-contained classroom but her students are now included in regular education classrooms and activities. She said teamwork is crucial and her entire team is deserving of recognition.
Love quoted the proverb, “A teacher cannot teach until the student is willing to learn.”
A 1996 educator of the year and school principal, Edward Fearer introduced Cheselske, whose nomination came from a parent.
Cheselske said he taught special education for the Intermediate Unit 1 more than 20 years before taking a classroom at Marclay School and that his parents were both teachers.
He said he tries to make a difference, promoting character education and involving his students in community projects.
“I think we can do more in Fayette County than we think we can and that’s what I try to do every day,” he said.
Hughes, a custodian, received recognition for individual excellence. Principal Jessica Marchezak, who was honored last year as an educator of the year, said Hughes knows all of the students by name and goes out of his way to help them, her and the staff.
“If they (students) need their shoes tied, milk opened or even an extra quarter, he comes through for them,” she said. “He demonstrates a love for his work and the people around him.”
Hughes said he has had a number of role models that set an example of what he tries to do every day and that is “to make a difference.”
All of the honorees thanked those with whom they work, their families and the chamber of commerce for the awards. Nominations came from various sources and a committee of the education council made the final selections.