Veronica Byers: Pleasant Valley, 1st Grade
Mrs. Byers received funding for classroom
games and tools to support students with ADHD.
PTEF Student Board Members Hannah Stuck and Uma Thachapuzha present Mr. Antonelli with his
The tools will help students to better focus
grant award.
during lessons, develop skills for maintaining
experience with an author. In addition to assemblies and small
attention during independent tasks, and work cooperatively
group events, Owens will provide books and lesson ideas for the
with others.
teachers related to the story.
In the past seven years, the PTEF has provided more than
$65,000 in funds to support education at all levels in Peters
Jackie Conkle: Middle School, Careers
Township. To learn more about the Peters Township Education
Dr. Conkle received headphones for her classroom to
Foundation and how you can support programs in our schools,
facilitate career research for the students. The students often
please visit www.pt-educationfoundation.org.
GET TO KNOW: MRS. KRISTIN
GRONINGER, PTHS TEACHER
Writing Lab at the building. We wanted
everyone to get to know Mrs. Groninger!
1. What made you want to become a
teacher?
I come from a family of educators, and
I love working with people. In fact, on
my dad’s side of the family, I am a fifth-
generation teacher. Both of my parents
are retired teachers. My dad was a college
professor, and my mom was a high school
guidance counselor. Growing up, I saw
that they enjoyed their jobs, so I decided
at an early age to become a teacher.
I
n any visit to our schools you will
encounter talented and dedicated
individuals who make each child’s
school day fun and challenging.
In each issue, we are profiling some of
our staff members to help parents and
the community get to know some of
these people. This month, we asked
High School staff member Mrs. Kristen
Groninger to answer our questions. Mrs.
Groninger teaches English at PTHS and
also serves as the staff sponsor for the
Forensics team and helps to organize the
2. What other interesting jobs have
you held?
During my college years, I spent
four summers waitressing at Phillips
Crab House in Ocean City, MD. I started
teaching in 1991 in York, PA and then
spent four years teaching at Fallston High
School in Harford County, MD before
moving to Pittsburgh.
3. What is your favorite thing to do
outside of the classroom?
My husband and I have three
daughters, two in college and one in
high school. We do our best to keep pace
with their lives as they move in different
directions. We also have two energetic
Labrador Retrievers that keep us busy.
I love spending time with my family,
traveling, walking the dogs, and reading.
4. What has been one of your favorite
projects/events at PTHS?
The most rewarding professional
experience I have been a part of lately is
sponsoring the High School Writing Lab.
Now in our third year, we are making this
supportive peer writing lab part of the
high school culture. I am honored to work
with a dynamic group of students who
want to help their peers become more
confident writers.
5. What do you wish every student
would know after a year in your
classroom?
Ultimately, I hope that my students
grow to appreciate the joy of reading for
pleasure! Reading and writing skills are
inexorably linked, and I’ve always been
impressed by the following quote:
“A person who won’t read has no
advantage over one who can’t read.” --
Mark Twain
PETERS TOWNSHIP
❘
AP R I L / M AY 2019
75
Joe Scaglione: Pleasant Valley, Physical
Education
Mr. Scaglione received pedometers and heart
rate monitors to support the Morning Milers
club at the school. Students will track and record
their steps and heart rate at the end of each
session. The program supports the Kids of STEEL
Marathon and encourages healthy habits in our
students.
use interactive video based software that can
be challenging to hear when used by the entire
class.