William Hileman
PFT President

President William Hileman has been a Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers (PFT) Executive Board member since 2006 and became PFT 400’s President in December of 2023 by Executive Board vote after the retirement of President Nina Esposito-Visgitis.

Billy was elected to a four-year term as PFT President by the full PFT Membership in May of 2024.

Prior to this, Billy served as PFT Vice-President for Middle Schools for the PFT. Bill is also the Assistant Legislative Representative for AFTPA, and serves as Secretary for the LGBTQIA+ COMMISSION for the City of Pittsburgh.

As a member of the PFT staff, Billy represented 27 schools, student services, early childhood, school safety, and the Paraprofessional and Technical-Clerical units–now he represents them all!

Billy served as a biology, chemistry, and physics teacher in the Pittsburgh Public Schools from 1986 until he became a PFT staff member in 2008.

billyh@pft400.org

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Prior to joining PFT Leadership as a Staff Representative in July of 2023, Rob spent 28 years as a Spanish teacher — serving 6 years at West Liberty Classical Academy, 21 years at Pittsburgh Classical Academy, and most recently putting in his final year at Westinghouse.

Rob has been a “go to” fixture for PFT leadership initiatives throughout the years, as co-chair of the African-American Teacher Mentorship Program, as a longtime PFT Political Action Committee member, and Rob has served on the PFT Executive Board since 2005 as a Member-at -large, Middle Schools Representative, Trustee, and most recently was elected Vice President of Middle Schools for the PFT, and Vice President for Pittsburgh — AFTPA.

Rob is a former Fulbright teacher in Peru (2005-2006), has attended AFT TEACH, has testified locally and at the state level and is currently the leader of the PPS Equity Leadership Institute team, a group working to recruit and retain teachers of color in Pittsburgh Public Schools.

In addition, Rob represented the PFT on the District ESSER Committee and served on Governor Shapiro’s Transition Team for Education in 2022-2023.

He can be reached at robert_mitchell@pft400.org.

Click here for a list of Rob’s PPS Schools, Special Schools and Unit Specialist Assignments.

Click here to learn more about Rob from his PFT Member Profile.

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Diane is currently a PFT Staff Representative and Executive Board Member (Middle School Representative)

Diane has been in the Pittsburgh Public Schools for 23 years.  22 years were at South Brook Middle School as an ELA teacher, ITL2, Literacy Coach, and librarian.

Diane has been an active member in the PFT throughout her career as an educator and has participated in numerous initiatives and activities such as: PFT Executive Board Member, PAC member, TLP graduate, Social Committee Chair for 4 years, co-chair of Labor Day parade committee, participant in TEACH conference (2023), participant in AFT PA Labor Leadership Summer Institute, and more.

As a member of the PFT staff, Diane represents 27 schools, student services, early childhood, school safety, and the Paraprofessional and Technical-Clerical units.

Diane can be reached at dianes@pft400.org or 412-526-2088

Click here for a list of Diane’s PPS Schools, Special Schools and Unit Specialist Assignments.

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Chris is the Organizing Director and PAC Director of the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers (PFT). Chris joined the PFT staff in 2015. Chris has been active in the labor movement since 1997, both as rank and file member of the United Food and Commercial Workers, UNITE!, and the Seafarers International Union — and as a staff organizer with SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania and the PFT.

Activism, member education, Building Rep management and new member recruitment are at the core of his duties. As PAC Director, Chris works with the PFT PAC committee to get members involved in our political work. Chris lives in Pittsburgh with his wife and children, who are attending Pittsburgh Public Schools. chris_george@pft400.org

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Pat Colangelo enjoyed a most satisfying and rewarding career with the Pittsburgh Public School system. After 36 years as an educator, she retired from her job as Literacy Coach. During this time, Pat served her union as an elementary group representative on the PFT executive board and as the building representative at Brookline School. She served on contract-negotiating teams, performed picket captain and sector leader duties and was elected to be a delegate at many union conventions.

Today she works part time as an assistant to the president and the staff of the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers, and is the active President of the vibrant PFT Retirees chapter. She has encouraged numerous retiree initiatives to financially sponsor special teacher projects to benefit the children in our PPS Schools, and has started a statewide group for AFT retirees. Most of her other free time is devoted to the children of her two nieces whom she adores and babysits while the families are working. She likes to travel, bowl, and donate to local casinos. pat_colangelo@pft400.org

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As the PFT Communications Director, Dan is responsible for weekly member communications and news distribution, traditonal and interactive media development, press outreach, brand and advertising development, and messaging support for all PFT and member-related events, meetings and activities

A near 30-year veteran of advertising, marketing communications and strategic development for local, regional and national brands, Dan has promoted union companies and labor-intensive industries since the mid 1990’s. dan_evans@pft400.org