HeartPrints Staff
Grace Byrnes
Executive Director / Preschool Teacher
What do you love about teaching?
I love the “ah ha” moments! I love the exploration and discovery that can be found every day. I just love the “kids”.
2 sentences that tell us something special about you…
I am the proud Grandma of two little boys Zachary and Tyler who unfortunately live in Richmond Virginia. Thank you for Facetime. I am the soon to be grandma in May – gender yet to be revealed.
Favorite Quote
“Anyone who does anything to help a child is a hero to me.” — Fred Rogers, television personality
Julia Stanny
Assistant Director
What do you love about teaching?
I love when children get super involved and excited about a topic. Young children can find magic in anything… from a worm to a seashell. Their excitement and curiosity are contagious.
2 sentences that tell us something special about you…
I love being outside! My husband and I enjoy taking our two dogs hiking, fly fishing, and camping as much as possible.
Favorite Quote
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou
Elizabeth Fairweather
Programs Coordinator / Preschool Teacher
What do you love about teaching?
I love the special connections I get to make with the children.
2 sentences that tell us something special about you…
I love books! As a child, I always wanted to be a librarian. I still really enjoy children books and love to find new ways to incorporate my love of literacy into the classroom.
Favorite Quote
“Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else.” — Fred Rogers, television personality
Samantha Kurtz
Preschool Teacher
What do you love about teaching?
I love creating new and positive relationships with children and their families. It is so exciting to watch children grow and accomplish so many new things as they are learning within the classroom.
2 sentences that tell us something special about you…
I was born and raised in Alabama, but then moved to Pittsburgh in 9th grade due to my dad’s job. Though at the time the decision was quite unpopular, I now am happy to call Pittsburgh my home, as my husband and I just bought our first house in Mt. Washington.
Favorite Quote
“A person’s a person, no matter how small.” – Dr. Seuss
Jennifer Saitz
Substitute Teacher
What do you love about teaching?
I love spending time watching the children grow.
2 sentences that tell us something special about you…
I love science! I spent most of my childhood outdoors and spent many years as a marine biologist before becoming a kindergarten teacher.
Favorite Quote
“The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched, they are felt with the heart.”
Kristen Gualtieri
What do you love about teaching?
I love showing children new and interesting things; but mostly I love forming relationships with my students. It is my mission to make them feel loved and comfortable which gives them confidence to explore new ideas.
2 sentences that tell us something special about you…
I am happily married to my college sweetheart, Joe, and we were blessed with 3 children, Giovanna, Lily, and Rocco. I am passionate about the performing arts and still take ballet and sing regularly.
Favorite Quote
"When little people are overwhelmed by big emotions, it's our job to share our calm. Not join their chaos." -L. R. Knost
Mary Beth Rengers
Substitute Teacher
What do you love about teaching?
I love to watch how the children grow and change from the beginning of the school year to the end. And I love the relationships I build with the children and their families.
2 sentences that tell us something special about you….
My husband and I recently moved to Cranberry Township to live closer to our daughters and extended family. We love to go biking on the weekends and traveling to new places.
Favorite quote
"There's no person in the world like you, and I like you just the way you are." -Mr. Rogers
Stacie Jones
Kindergarten Teacher
What do you love about teaching?
Teaching is a magical thing. It is exhilarating and I can’t imagine it not being a part of my life. When asked,” What do you love about teaching?”, my answer is simple. I love the students, making a difference, and using my creativity on a daily basis. What I love most of all is that it is never boring. There is always something going on. Each day is new and exciting and the students have a way of making every moment magical.
2 sentences that tell us something special about you…
I have a passion for cooking/baking and the arts. Sometimes I like to combine the two. In my free time I like to try new recipes and find unique ways to combine the art of cooking with science, math, and social studies. I previously taught out of state for District of Columbia Public Schools and earned a certificate of study in Arts Integration from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Favorite Quote
“As human beings, our job in life is to help people realize how rare and valuable each one of us really is, that each of us has something that no one else has – or ever will have – something inside that is unique to all time. It’s our job to encourage each other to discover that uniqueness and to provide ways of developing its expression.” – Fred Rogers
Stacie Johnson
What do you love about teaching?
I love watching children learn and grow. It’s so special to see the look on a child’s face when they understand something new.
2 sentences that tell us something special about you…
I live in Wexford with my husband and 3 children, Rylee, Jackson, and Reagan, and my 3 puppy dogs. I enjoy traveling, especially to the beach, and reading.
Favorite Quote
“Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you are right” -Henry Ford
Evan Higgins
What do you love about teaching?
I love being present for the fun and excitement experienced by young learners. I especially love helping young children learn and be excited about reading.
2 sentences that tell us something special about you….
I grew up in Northern New York, worked in Wilderness Therapy in Colorado and now live in Pittsburgh with my family. Reading books and playing the accordion help me unwind.
Favorite quote
“It’s the books that you read when you’re young that live with you forever.” - J. K. Rowling
Tracy Keys
Preschool Teacher
What do you love about teaching?
I love that every day is different. I also love to see the children have moments when things “click” and the proud feeling they express.
2 sentences that tell us something special about you….
I have been married to my husband for 25 years. We have three children, Morgan-21, Caleb-20 and Addie-16.
Favorite quote
Life is a journey, not a guided tour.
Patty Beck
Club Teacher and Substitute
What do you love about teaching?
I love seeing the personal growth in each child. Seeing the light bulb go off in a child’s head and watching their faces light up as they realize it. I love being able to witness relationships form between children.
2 sentences that tell us something special about you…
I was an elementary school teacher for multiple years prior to having my two daughters. I love being outdoors; from biking and hiking to catching critters with the family. Nature is good for my soul!
"Success is not the key to happiness; happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful."
Brittney Reddick "Miss R."
Teacher
What do you love about teaching?
I love teaching because I enjoy seeing how each student learns uniquely. I love the relationships I build with the children and their families.
2 sentences that tell us something special about you….
In my free time, I like to hand knit chunky blankets and spend time with my family and friends. My boyfriend and I recently bought a house in Shaler. I look forward to furthering my teaching career at HeartPrints Center.
Favorite quote
“The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.” - B. B. King
Hannah Gravener
Teacher
What do you love about teaching?
I believe the role of the teacher is to learn alongside the children and in partnership with their families. My value in “teacher as researcher” re-inspires my own learning in my reciprocal relationship with each child.
2 sentences that tell us something special about you…
I grew up in the South Hills of Pittsburgh, and now live in Cranberry with my husband, James, and our Sheepadoodle, Nigel. I enjoy gardening and cooking and can often be found at a local farmer’s market.
“The child is not a citizen of the future, (they) are a citizen from the very first moment of life and also the most important citizen because (they) represent and bring the possible…a bearer, here and now of rights, of values, of culture. It is our historical responsibility not only to affirm this but to create cultural, social, political, and educational contexts which are able to receive children and dialogue with their potential for constructing human rights.” - Carlina Rinaldi
Jillian Thompson
Teacher
What do you love about teaching?
I love welcoming children into the classroom each and every day and providing them with an environment where they get to be excited about learning.
2 sentences that tell us something special about you….
I grew up in a family full of teachers and have always wanted to follow in their footsteps to have a classroom of my own. I love to draw, paint, read and bake whenever I have some free time!
Favorite quote
“He who laughs most, learns best.” – John Cleese
Lauren Wise
Teacher
What do you love about teaching?
My favorite part of teaching is building relationships with the children! I love seeing them grasp a new concept or learn something new, and knowing that I made an impact on them.
2 sentences that tell us something special about you…
I recently got married and moved to the Cranberry Township area. In my free-time, I love shopping and traveling.
“It takes a big heart to shape little minds.”
Luna de Bonis
Teacher
What do you love about teaching?
I love that I get to share kid’s daily discoveries and witness how they are amazed and find joy in every little thing.
2 sentences that tell us something special about you….
I was born and raised in Argentina, so my first language is Spanish. I love to bake, dance, and spend time with family and friends.
Favorite quote
“Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried something new.” - Albert Einstein
Lexi Craig
Teacher
What do you love about teaching?
Í love watching the children reach new milestones every day. Watching them grow into thoughtful and bright young humans is so rewarding to me.
2 sentences that tell us something special about you…
I come from a big family of three sisters and one brother. I also have two dogs, Kobe and Ozzie, who are full of energy. When I’m not working, I like to travel and hang with friends.
“The purpose of education is to replace an empty mind with an open one.” – Malcolm S. Forbes
Melissa Silvernail
Teacher
What do you love about teaching?
I love teaching because it is an honor to play a part in shaping the next generation. There is magic in witnessing the wonder and potential of these amazing children, knowing that in some small way, I contribute to their beautiful futures.
2 sentences that tell us something special about you….
I grew up in South Dakota. I also love to hike with my three kids – we have the best chats while we are hiking.
Favorite quote
“Today is a good day for a good day.”
Cielo Uriostegui Beltran “Miss Cielo”
Spanish Teacher + Substitute
What do you love about teaching?
I love to see how children learn and how sweet they are. As the Spanish teacher, I love to hear them speak my language.
2 sentences that tell us something special about you…
I am from Mexico City, 20 years ago I moved to Pittsburgh with my husband, my daughter Sofía and my sons Patricio and Santiago. After 3 years in Pittsburgh, we moved to Shanghai China where we spent 4 adventurous years. After that, we returned to our home here in Pittsburgh.
Students don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. - Anonymous