INPERSON
Going Above
and Beyond
Bridgeville’s Lee
Cristofano lauded for
his work with
“Big Data”
BY W.B. FRESA
“It’s a one-of-a-kind course.
Students have the opportunity to
see how data is used — directing
everything from the food they eat
to the music and clothes they buy.”
Bethel Park Teachers Lee Cristofano, Emily Smoller, Barb Eisel and Jessica Mahoney.
T
he Bethel Park School District strives
to meet the needs and challenges of
its students on a daily basis. As 2016
begins, several teachers are being recognized
and rewarded for their efforts in 2015 for
teaching kids everything from the basics of
communicating when presented with special
needs to what the future may hold after they
leave the halls of Bethel Park High School
(BPHS).
ONE DAY AT A TIME
Jessica Mahoney, one of Franklin
Elementary School’s Autistic Support
teachers, was only 16 when her career path
began. A Bethel Park native, she was singing
in the choir and looking for a part-time job
when a friend directed her to the Jewish
Community Center ( JCC) and mentioned
that it was looking for day-camp counselors.
“I’d never done anything like it before but I
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really enjoyed being with the kids,” said Ms.
Mahoney. “I then began working with the
special needs camp. Someon H