“ They gave me the space and time to experiment with teaching , allowing kids to be active learners . It was a beautiful experience .” Luke Leiden
excited about it and encouraging students to explore math — to come to their own conclusions and make math a conversation ,” Pinto says .
Jennifer Fisher-Clark
Jennifer Fisher-Clark worked as a student teacher in Lindsay O ’ Sullivan ’ s third-grade class in 2016 . After completing the Combined Accelerated Studies in Education program at Pitt Education , she began working with seventh- and eighth-grade students as a special education teacher at a Cambridge , Massachusetts , charter school . Last summer , she moved to York , England , where she is a teaching assistant at an alternative provision school for kids with special education needs .
“ My strongest memories of Falk are the times we spent outside ,” Fisher-Clark says . “ I loved seeing students exploring , socializing , discovering , and otherwise enjoying being outside , whether that be in Falk Woods or just on the playground . I also have wonderful memories of doing a project-based unit on ‘ Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ’ that incorporated reading , writing , math , design , and other elements . It was the first time I led a unit , and it wasn ’ t perfect , but I learned a lot and the kids had fun !”
Fisher-Clark says that Falk has left her with an understanding of how important play , exploration , and real-world experiences are for children .
“ I also remember Falk as such a warm and welcoming place ,” she adds , “ which helped me recognize that educators must prioritize fostering a sense of belonging and acceptance in our classrooms .”
Christine Wagner
Christine Wagner ( EDUC ’ 17G ) completed her student teaching under Yalch . She is teaching Algebra I at Highlands High School , outside Pittsburgh , after spending the past three years teaching eighth-grade prealgebra and advanced Algebra I at Highlands Middle School .
Just weeks after earning her Master of Arts in Teaching at Pitt Education , Wagner accepted her first teaching job in London , England , where she taught secondary mathematics . After returning to Pittsburgh , Wagner worked as a long-term substitute and began her current position in March 2020 .
“ My memories of interning at Falk are some of the most special memories of my teaching career ,” she says , recalling experiences like the McKeever Environmental Learning Center experiential learning trip and creating math projects with Yalch and Tim Kirchner , including a unit that tasked seventh graders with using algebra and modular arithmetic to solve a “ murder mystery ” scavenger hunt around the school .
“ Falk helped me develop a love and excitement for teaching in a way that no other place could have done ,” Wagner says . “ Falk instilled in me the importance of getting to know my students not only as learners but as people outside the classroom in order to make learning more engaging and fun for them .
“ One of the biggest takeaways that continues to impact my approach to teaching today is the importance of students learning through inquiry , discovery , and realworld hands-on learning ,” she adds . “ The faculty and culture at Falk provided a safe space to experiment with exciting new ideas , approaches , and opportunities that allowed me to be creative and take risks in order to hone my skills in these areas , for which I am beyond grateful .”
James W . Durkin Jr .
James W . Durkin Jr . ( EDUC ’ 19 , ’ 20G ) first came to Falk in 2017 as a Pitt undergraduate student worker in the extended day program , and he later worked at the front desk . He completed his student teaching in 2020 in Diana Dimitrovski and Christa Cooke ’ s kindergarten classroom .
After leaving Pittsburgh , Durkin worked as a kindergarten special education teacher at a Philadelphia charter school . He ’ s now in his third year teaching kindergarten in the Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia .
“ I valued my time at Falk so much ,” says Durkin . “ Falk taught me how to teach the whole child : academically , socially , and emotionally . Falk truly showed me how to celebrate each student for their different ideas and experiences . And , of course , I was shown just how fun and engaging teaching can be !”
Erin Kalbach
Erin Kalbach ( EDUC ’ 20 , ’ 21G ) completed her student teaching under O ’ Sullivan during the 2020-21 school year . After graduating from Pitt Education with a Master of Education in instruction and learning , Kalbach moved to Virginia , where she taught kindergarten in the Chesapeake Public Schools . She ’ s entering her third year as a pre-K teacher at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy in Suffolk , Virginia .
“ Falk has a very special place in my heart ,” Kalbach says . “ To me , it represents an ideal learning space . I am
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