Meet Sunnyside Social Worker Linda Voytko

PFT: What compelled you to become a teacher and/or to work in education? 

LINDA: I never really had an interest in kids or education.  I was/am a clinical social worker and was working at Glade Run Lutheran Services as the Director of outpatient services on the north side in the early 90’s. 

I took a part time job as an independent contractor with PPS at McNaugher running small groups, doing individual therapy, and assisting with the evaluations for approved private school placement of students. That lead to meeting Joe Altman and we began talking about replicating the McNaugher model within the general PPS buildings with the idea of preventing kids from going to McNaugher or APS schools, thus saving money for the district … and the therapeutic classroom model was born.

(I supervised all the middle school classrooms for the district under Glade Run.) I also was the program director of the Alternative Program at Milliones until Milliones closed.Once I became involved in a school (Milliones) on a daily basis, I was hooked in an environment I never thought I would be interested in and my vocation changed.

PFT: What do you like best about your career choice and job? 

LINDA: I really love knowing that I can motivate and inspire and plant and cultivate seeds and shape young minds every single day.  Every school day is a new opportunity for me to speak to and show kids the vast possibilities in/of life and their futures.

PFT: Where/what school(s) did you pursue higher education? What degrees and certifications do you hold?  Do you have any professional awards or recognition you’d like to share?

LINDA: I have a BA in psychology from Cleveland State University(CSU) and an MSW and HSV from Pitt. 

I am certified in Gerontology (CSU) and Addictions (Penn State).  I also am a clinical social worker (LCSW) and hold a diplomat status in clinical social work.

PFT: In your opinion, what are the greatest challenges faced by educators today? Students?  School districts? Any challenges specific to your subject matter expertise?

LINDA: I think the profession has lost the respect of the public. 

I’m not sure how or when one of the most respected careers became so contested.  It was a nice byproduct that when Covid forced us to go remote that the community and families were forced to realize and appreciate what we do on a daily basis but with 20-45 kids all day not just a parent’s experience of 1-5 kids at home who needed sustained educational attention for 7+ hours/day.  

Unfortunately, it was short lived and soon became contentious again for various reasons (my kid needs to be in front of a teacher to learn, I need to get back to work, Covid isn’t real, educators are lazy and don’t want to work, parents need a break from their kids, etc)  We will never get the resources needed to teach or the financial compensation we deserve without feeling guilty, nor will we secure true respect as a profession unless or until the community finds true value in the services we render to young people and their minds.

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?

LINDA: I joined the union on my first day of signing my PPS contract.  At the time I didn’t know what that really meant but Mary Van Horn surely sold the idea to me.  It sounded like a lot of fighting for basic rights and protections in the workplace and for things students need.  That was all I needed to hear!

Well, over the years and after immersion in the union it has become so much more.  I have proudly and honorably served as a building rep, served and chaired many committees, marched and picketed many events, served as a strike captain, spoke out at many public hearings, and currently sit on the Executive Board of the PFTv representing support services, as I have for several terms.

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?

LINDA: This is my third career, my first being in the military where you just took what they dished out without question or consideration.

My second career was in the private sector, where you were able to or had to negotiate terms for yourself.

So it’s a total relief that in my final formal career I have a union (union officers specifically) to do the contract negotiation for me, sto peak on my/our behalf, to provide support and comfort during challenging times with our school administration, and to provide opportunities for us to collectively fight for things important to not only us as educators but for our students and families.

All this and it’s a place for all of us to support to brother/sister unions who need our strength and numbers in their struggles.

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.

LINDA: Not really, but Mary Van Horne was always a unique voice for me to draw upon.

FINAL NOTES and Lightning Round:

People are surprised to learn…. I donated a kidney to a little 10-year-old girl, who is the daughter of a fellow educator, 11 years ago. We were a perfect match and share the same birthday.

I volunteered for the Red Cross Disaster Action Team as a disaster team leader and mental health support for almost 20 years and was the mental health support person at the 9/11 site in Shanksville in 2001.

And that I like Christian rock music.

Linda’s Favorite …
Movies:  Any Columbo movie … reminds me of my mom
Books: Handyman magazine, various food/wine magazines
Author: I read more newspaper articles than books these days
Singer: Sarah McLachlan
Song: Cheers(drink to that) by Rihanna … These got me through my cancer surgeries.
Color:  Anything but orange and yellow.
Food:  Snything weird to most people… chicken feet soup, cow tongue, fried gizzards, frog legs, gator on a stick, caviar, etc
Time of Year: Fall because I love wearing sweaters and preparing for indoor cozy fires and spring because it symbolizes new growth and I soon get to start my vegetable gardens

FAVORITE QUOTE:
“You don’t have to know everything. You just need to know where you can find the information.
L. Voytko