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
