Name: Michelle Vislay Occupation & School: PreK and Kindergarten, Montessori Years In Education: 15 years Years At Current Position/School: 6th year Previously, I … started my career in teaching at Carnegie Mellon University’s Cyert Center for Early Education– a PreK teacher for 4 years. I then became a certified Montessori teacher and taught mixed age, PreK and Kindergarten at various private Montessori schools before teaching at Pittsburgh Public Montessori.
PFT: What compelled you to become a teacher and/or to work in education?
Michelle:I originally went to school for theater and dance in performing arts. During my freshman year in college, I realized I wanted to become a teacher. The love and desire that I had to be around, and teach, children … became my motivation towards fulfilling a career in Early Childhood Education.
PFT: What do you like best about your career choice and job?
Michelle:There are several things I love about my job, but the best part of working with young children is knowing that every day I will smile, laugh and make someone feel better.
I also love teaching the children life lessons. It always amazes me how much they desire to learn.
PFT: Where/what school(s) did you pursue higher education?
Michelle: I graduated from Clarion University with a bachelors in Early Childhood Education. I hold a Montessori Early Childhood teaching certificate. I also have my Masters in Education with a focus in Montessori from William Howard Taft University.
PFT: In your opinion, what are the greatest challenges faced by educators today? Students? School districts? Any challenges specific to your subject matter expertise?
Michelle:I feel the greatest challenges educators face is not being heard and voicing what is needed most for the students.
Teachers know their students the best. In order to provide them what they need to succeed, educators should have more say in the structure of the student’s day that is developmentally appropriate for the child and their learning environment.
PFT: When did you join the union? Do you participate in any committees or hold any leadership positions? Ever taken any coursework or continuing education?
Michelle:I became a member of the PFT when I first started at PPS in 2014. Since then, I have participated in ER&D classes, Teacher Leader Program, and Labor Day Parade–in addition to being a Union Representative at my school.
PFT: In your own words, why is having union representation important? What’s the best thing about being in a union, whether you are an active or more passive participant?
Michelle: It’s important to have union representation because it affords you a real chance to be heard. I appreciate the support we provide to each other and how we are all fighting for fairness and equality.
PFT: Do you have a mentor that introduced you to the PFT/Union? Please share who—and what that person meant to you and to your member development.
Michelle: A former colleague at Montessori, Karen Gelston, who has since retired, encouraged me to get involved with and be an active member with the union. I am thankful for her advice with several aspects of teaching!
FINAL NOTES and Lightning Round: People are surprised to learn... I have been teaching Zumba at Carnegie Mellon University since 2008!
Michelle’s FAVORITE… Movie: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Book: The Compassionate Classroom Author: Max Lucado Singer: Andrea Bocelli Song: Several….I love music and I love to dance Color: Pastel Pink Food: Chocolate/Any Sweets Time of year: Spring
FAVORITE “SHARE-ABLE” QUOTES:
Personal catchphrase: “Stay strong and don’t give up!”
“To the world you may be one person; but to one person you may be the world.” -Dr. Seuss
“Now, what really makes a teacher is love for the human child; for it is love that transforms the social duty of the educator into the higher consciousness of a mission.” -Marie Montessori
Sarah Ford with mentee Kaniah Little, a Senior at Brashear.
Name: Sarah Ford Occupation & School: Career Counselor for CTE Program Students, Pittsburgh Career and Tech Ed Years In Education: 16.5 years Years At Current Position/School: 6th Previously, I … taught at … Reizenstein Middle School: 1.5 Years Perry High School: 8 Years Manchester K-8: 1 year
PFT: What compelled you to become a teacher and/or to work in education?
SARAH:As long as I can remember, I wanted to be a teacher. School was my favorite place. I loved to learn, play, and try new things. Not only did I love school, but I was fortunate to have many amazing teachers, professors, and coaches that made me want to work in education.
PFT: What do you like best about your career choice and job?
SARAH:I have been fortunate to work with thousands of students over the years and the favorite part of my job is when students “get it.” Whether it’s getting a concept or figuring out what they want to do after high school or when I run in to them at Target and they have a family, career, and become wonderful citizens.
PFT: Where/what school(s) did you pursue higher education?
SARAH: The higher ed institutions that I attended are Robert Morris College and California University of PA for undergrad, Capella University for my Masters, and currently attending Geneva’s Center for Urban Biblical Ministry.
My undergrad work was in Secondary Communications Education, Masters in School Counseling pre-k to 12th grade, and a certification in Urban Ministry.
PFT: In your opinion, what are the greatest challenges faced by educators today? Students? School districts? Any challenges specific to your subject matter expertise?
SARAH:The biggest challenge of teachers today is the competition for attention. Students are pulled in so many different ways, sports, social, and peers; those things often supersede the need for time spent studying and becoming an excellent student of life.
PFT: When did you join the union? Do you participate in any committees or hold any leadership positions? Ever taken any coursework or continuing education?
SARAH: I have been a union member since I started in the district. I have participated in ER&D classes; both taking and teaching. This year, I am a part of the Teacher Leadership Program.
PFT: In your own words, why is having union representation important? What’s the best thing about being in a union, whether you are an active or more passive participant?
SARAH: The best thing about being a union member is knowing that you have advocates fighting for you.
PFT: Do you have a mentor that introduced you to the PFT/Union? Please share who—and what that person meant to you and to your member development.
SARAH: I do not have an official mentor, but Kellie Skweres and Julie Stewart were teachers in one of my first ER&D classes. They made me want to continue taking classes and staying active, even if passively, in the union.
FINAL NOTES and Lightning Round: People are surprised to learn... that my dream job was to be an anchor on ESPN.
SARAH’s FAVORITE… Movie: Hackers Book: This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti Author: Jessica Fletcher Singer: Too many to choose just one Song: Maverick City “A Man of Your Word” Color: Black Food: Meat (ask anyone who knows me, I love all the meats … except seafood.) Time of year: Spring
FAVORITE “SHARE-ABLE” QUOTE: “You are the villain in someone’s story.”
Sarah Ford with mentee Kaniah Little, a Senior at Brashear.
Below please find additional links providing helpful information you can bookmark and count on as the COVID-19 situation changes and evolves. It will do so daily.
The AFT’s 86th biennial convention is underway, bringing together 4,000 delegates from around the country across our K-12, paraprofessional, higher education, healthcare and public employee divisions.
JULY 28: The AFT’s biennial convention is starting today, and we’re doing it virtually! This year is all about how we are fighting for a better life for our members—and for everyone. Today’s highlights include AFT President Randi Weingarten’s State of the Union speech and the presentation of AFT Secretary-Treasurer Lorretta Johnson’s Bayard Rustin Award. Other highlights include a Black Lives Matter panel and discussion of economic inequity on Wednesday, and remarks from former Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday. Additional sessions will feature professor and education historian Diane Ravitch, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and award-winning composer, lyricist and actor Lin-Manuel Miranda. Tune in live at 11 a.m. ET on the AFT’s Facebook page or at www.aft.org and use the hashtag #AFT20.
Do you like a reading a good book and discussing it with family, friends & colleagues? Do you have a phone? If you answered yes to all of the above, you are uniquely qualified to take advantage of another awesome literary opportunity currently on offer in PPS!
PFT MEMBERS are welcome to join us in reading & discussing (in person or on the phone) the book…
“Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Teaching and Learning, Classroom Practices for Student Success” — Second Edition by Sharroky Hollie
