Alumni
Former Falk Student Teachers Look Back
Since the school ’ s founding in 1931 , part of Falk Laboratory School ’ s mission has been to serve as a demonstration school , a place where teachers learn to teach . Each year , approximately 20 student teachers complete their training at Falk , many of them enrolled in programs at the University of Pittsburgh School of Education . Falk student teachers go on to lead their own classrooms and to engage and support students in every kind of school environment , but many of them credit their time at Falk with creating a strong foundation for their teaching careers .
Jennifer McGaffin
Jennifer McGaffin ( A & S ’ 91 , EDUC ’ 92G ) student taught in David Ross ’ third- and fourth-grade class in the 1991-92 school year . She now teaches fifth grade in the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District outside Philadelphia , Pennsylvania .
“ I remember a feeling of belonging ,” McGaffin says . “ I loved the ‘ laboratory-ness ’ of it , the fact that as student teachers we were able to be a part of it . You didn ’ t feel like you were sitting there watching . I was involved in planning and doing and bringing ideas to the classroom .”
She recalls Ross letting her try out an idea during a lesson on the senses . From Pitt ’ s vision studies program , she borrowed special glasses that simulate blindness and had Falk students try them out .
“ I never had the experience of someone telling me , ‘ No , that ’ s not a good idea ,’” McGaffin says . “ I felt like student teaching at Falk solidified the sense that this is what I ’ m here to do .”
“ I remember a feeling of belonging . I loved the ‘ laboratory-ness ’ of it , the fact that as student teachers we were able to be a part of it . You didn ’ t feel like you were sitting there watching . I was involved in planning and doing and bringing ideas to the classroom .”
Jennifer McGaffin
40 EN AVANT | FALL 2023
Luke Leiden
Luke Leiden ( A & S ’ 07 , EDUC ’ 13G ) interned at Falk in the 2012-13 school year . After graduating with a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from Pitt ’ s School of Education , Leiden taught Spanish for six years in the Beaver Area School District . He is currently a Spanish teacher at Shaler Area High School .
He recalls shadowing Falk ’ s Spanish teachers at the time , Ashley Hellman and Lacey Davis .
“ My time at Falk gave me experience with projectbased learning and experiential learning , and I took that with me ,” Leiden says . “ Falk was really into inductive learning and having kids figure out the rules . My mentor teachers were so patient with me , allowing me to take three days reading a story so kids could figure out ‘ me gusta ’ versus ‘ me gustan .’ They gave me the space and time to experiment with teaching , allowing kids to be active learners . It was a beautiful experience .”
Leiden also learned from other teachers , like Ross , Greg Wittig , Eileen Coughlin , and Joanna Newlin .
“ I felt like I had about five or six mentor teachers instead of just one ,” he says . “ It was awesome to see different teaching styles . I benefited from each person ’ s perspective and sought it out , and they were happy to share .”
Anthony Pinto
“ I loved my experience at Falk ,” says Anthony Pinto ( ENGR ’ 10 , EDUC ’ 15 ), who student taught under Middle School math teacher Michael Yalch . “ I thought , ‘ Oh my gosh , wherever I teach , I need to be in a place like this .’”
Pinto earned a master ’ s in teaching with a focus in secondary mathematics . After graduating , he taught at the Chicago Academy for the Arts for five years . He ’ s now teaching at Rowland Hall , an independent pre-K-12 school in Salt Lake City , Utah .
“ It ’ s a phenomenal independent school ,” Pinto says . “ Falk set the trajectory of my career of loving the indie school model . I ’ m super lucky that that was my student teaching experience .”
He also credits his time at Falk with forming his view of math education .
“ What Michael Yalch instilled in me was enjoying math and the beauty of math for itself — and getting