Get to Know Alumna Maggie Giel-Bovaird
Get to Know Our Team: Shaler Area Middle School Teacher Jenny Birch
SHALER AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT haler area school district SHALER AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS
Maggie Giel-Bovaird serves as the Chief Advancement Officer of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh. Her desire to pursue a career that serves others was sparked by the thriving community spirit she experienced growing up in Shaler Area. She reflects,“ My interest in this field was sparked early on. Growing up, my dad was deeply involved in our community and served on several nonprofit boards, so I was exposed to the world of service and giving back from a young age. Then, in sixth grade, I met Ms. Kristi Coleman at Shaler Area Middle School— she was( and still is) the school counselor and left a lasting impression on me. Her kindness, presence, and ability to make students feel heard and valued inspired me to want to follow a similar path. I wanted to be that person for someone else— to help young people feel seen, supported, and empowered. The fact that I
Jenny Birch is entering her 20th year at Shaler Area School District, where she teaches middle school English Language Arts, and directs the high school musical each year. She is grateful to support students at such a formative time in their lives. Birch reflects,“ The best part of teaching middle school is watching the kids cross the bridge between childhood and adulthood. To decide what kind of people they want to be and then take the first steps toward becoming those people and pursuing their dreams.”
28 SHALER AREA
Get to Know Alumna Maggie Giel-Bovaird
still remember how she made me feel over 25 years later speaks volumes about her impact. I initially explored the corporate world, but the idea of making a difference for someone else never really left me. It kept coming back, stronger each time, until I finally decided to follow that calling. After earning my master’ s degree in school counseling, I found my way to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh— a role that allowed me to use both of my degrees and brought together all of my passions. It is the perfect combination.”
Having firmly established her roots, Giel continues to call Shaler home, ensuring her children can grow up in the same vibrant and supportive community that helped shape her own journey. She shares,“ My experience as a student at Shaler Area was so meaningful that I chose to raise my own family here— I even live in the same neighborhood I grew up in. That decision says a lot about the kind of community Shaler is. Some of my closest friends today are people I first met back at Rogers, now Scott Primary School. The lasting friendships, strong sense of community, and supportive environment I experienced as a student helped shape both my personal and professional life. It’ s a testament to the impact a great school district can have— one that stays with you for a lifetime.”
Get to Know Our Team: Shaler Area Middle School Teacher Jenny Birch
This summer, Birch added another title to her curriculum vitae: published author. Birch’ s contemporary fantasy novel Woven from Clay hit bookstore shelves in August. It’ s an accomplishment that was decades in the making. Birch shares,“ Becoming an author is something I’ ve wanted to do my whole life. It took me a long time to refine my craft and find the story I was meant to tell, but I never gave up. I hope that’ s the lesson my students take away from my journey … I promised myself a long time ago I would never give up. I could rest, I could take a break, but I would never give up. And I didn’ t. And that’ s the foundation of this accomplishment. It’ s the example with which I always want to lead in my classroom, too. I know my students can achieve their dreams— whether it’ s a book or a business or a journey or whatever— if they commit to never giving up and allow themselves to be supported in that journey!”
Outside of work Birch enjoys spending time with her husband and three children and writing.