Campus Close-Up: Baggaley Elementary School

For this week’s Campus Close-Up, I had the privilege of featuring a few of Baggaley Elementary School’s faculty who are Pitt Alumni.

Melissa Wisniewski, 3rd Grade, Class of 2004

Why did you choose Pitt?

“They have a great reading master’s program. Dr. Rita Bean was a great professor and I loved  her. I was able to do a reading internship in a classroom while doing my classwork. My husband and I are huge Pitt fans as well.”

What was your favorite memory at Pitt?

“I was getting my master’s at Pitt. I remember having a class where we read novels which covered different cultures. It was interesting to read the novels and talk about them. The atmosphere and professors at Pitt are top notch and the education is great.”

How did Pitt prepare you for teaching?

“The internship that I got through Pitt made me prepared. They were paying me as a full-time Reading Specialist and I got to take my classes at night. I got to experience what a classroom was like and got to explore the reading interventions and how to help kids with reading.”

Ashlee Bulloch, Kindergarten, Class of 2005

Why did you choose Pitt?

“I went to UPJ. I loved it there and it was a beautiful campus. Everyone I met was nice and welcoming. The campus was a little smaller, which was nice.”

What was your favorite memory at Pitt?

“When they did different gatherings such as homecoming and bonfires. It was the little things.”

How did Pitt prepare you for teaching?

“I had to take a Phonics class and I still use so many things I learned in my classroom today. My field experience and tutoring I did also helped me as well.”

Ashley Noel, Gifted Classroom Assistant, Class of 2023

Why did you choose Pitt?

“It was close to my house. It also is a beautiful campus.”

What was your favorite memory at Pitt?

“Meeting my best friends that I currently have today.”

How did Pitt prepare you for teaching?

“There were a lot of hours that we had to compete. We had a lot of experience within the classroom.”

Amanda Corwin, Reading Specialist, Class of 2016

Why did you choose Pitt?

“My mom works for Pitt, so that was my best option.” 

What was your favorite memory at Pitt?

“It was getting to know a community outside of Latrobe. I went to UPJ, so I got to explore Johnstown. But it wasn’t too far from home, so I wasn’t too scared.”

How did Pitt prepare you for teaching?

“Pitt put me in contact with good professors and I made connections. My professors had connections with school districts and it got me some good experience.”

Ali Keslar, 5th Grade, Class of 1997

Why did you choose Pitt?

“I went to UPJ. It was small and safe. I heard they had a good education program.”

What was your favorite memory at Pitt?

“My sorority, specifically Greek Week. It was a week of fun and competition.”

How did Pitt prepare you for teaching?

“They got us into the field early in our college career so that we were sure that we wanted to do this. The classes were small, so the teachers were able to give us individual guidance.”

Zach Simms, 4th Grade, Class of 2016

Why did you choose Pitt?

“I always liked Pitt. I chose Pitt-Greensburg because they had a new four-year education program. It was an easy commute while still getting a Pitt degree.”

What was your favorite memory at Pitt?

“It was going to state conferences with the education department and SPSEA (Student Pennsylvania State Education Association), or hanging out with education friends between classes.”

How did Pitt prepare you for teaching?

“They gave us a lot of field experience through the department and a lot of professional development. I got to see through the study abroad program how teaching works in a different country.”