HeartPrints Staff

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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

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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

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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

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Heather Forsythe

Preschool Teacher & Specials Teacher (Nature Education, Art, Yoga & Mindfulness




What do you love about teaching?

I love the children, teaching and being able to see them shine when they have just discovered one of their gifts or when they put their hands in the dirt for the first time. The seeds of learning and connection between themselves and the Earth have been planted for life!

2 sentences that tell us something special about you….

I moved to Pittsburgh from Virginia 10 years ago with my husband, three children, lots of loved animals and plants. I am a Community Herbalist, Yoga and Meditation teacher, and a Fiber Artist who was blessed to study traditional weaving with a master weaver, the first women in West Virginia to receive the prestigious National Heritage Fellowship in Washington D.C. presented by the National Endowment for the Arts, which is the highest award given to folk and traditional artists in the nation.

Favorite quote

“I sincerely believe that for the child, and for the parent seeking to guide him, it is not so important to know as to feel when introducing a young child to the natural world. If facts are the seeds that later produce knowledge and wisdom, then the emotions and impressions of the senses are the fertile soil in which the seeds must grow. The years of early childhood are the time to prepare the soil.“ -Rachel Carson

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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.

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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

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Jennifer Saitz

Kindergarten 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.”

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Kristen Gualtieri

Preschool Teacher



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

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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

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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

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Stacie Johnson

Substitute



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 

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Evan Higgins

Preschool Teacher



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

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Lauren Kaiser

Preschool Teacher



What do you love about teaching? 

I love teaching because it gives me the opportunity to inspire children to love learning. Teaching also allows me to continue learning every day.

2 sentences that tell us something special about you…

I am a mom to a 5-year-old little guy named Levi who started Kindergarten this school year. I have two pets at home, a maltipoo dog named Turbo and a Bearded Dragon named Lizzy. I enjoy cooking on the weekend for my husband and son.

Favorite Quote

“Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game”

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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."

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Emily Droesch

Substitute




What do you love about teaching?

I love seeing how the children interpret new concepts and materials. Their creativity always impresses me.

2 sentences that tell us something special about you….

I have two sons, ages 8 and 5, who both went to Heart Prints. Our family loves taking road trips and exploring new places together.

Favorite quote

"There are three ways to ultimate success: The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind." - Fred Rogers