2020-2021 Key Women Educators
Delta Kappa Gamma is a Society for key women educators, women who are outstanding in their field, make a positive difference in the lives of students, actively engage students in the teaching/learning process, strive for excellence in education, rise above the status quo, and bring out the best in others.
In 2020-2021, Alpha Beta invited district administrators and our members active in the field to submit names of those who came to mind when hearing the phrase “key women educator.” The stories of those recognized follow.
In 2020-2021, Alpha Beta invited district administrators and our members active in the field to submit names of those who came to mind when hearing the phrase “key women educator.” The stories of those recognized follow.
AMANDA ADAMS
Amanda Adams is the French teacher at Tussey Mountain High School. During her 17 years in the district, she has held many roles. She is the French Club advisor, taking her students on riverboat cruises in Pittsburgh and on trips to local eateries. Every year during French week, she takes her club members to the elementary school for them to teach mini-French lessons to the younger students.
Over the years, she has been a drama club advisor- teaching choreography to the students involved in the musicals. She has also worked with the band as the Color Guard advisor.
Most recently, she was tasked with leading the school-wide incentive team. The team consists of teachers and students who plan and implement positive behavior incentives throughout the school year. During her three years of leadership, she helped steer the school through a pandemic and found creative ways to boost the morale of both the students and teachers whether in person or virtual.
Amanda Adams is the French teacher at Tussey Mountain High School. During her 17 years in the district, she has held many roles. She is the French Club advisor, taking her students on riverboat cruises in Pittsburgh and on trips to local eateries. Every year during French week, she takes her club members to the elementary school for them to teach mini-French lessons to the younger students.
Over the years, she has been a drama club advisor- teaching choreography to the students involved in the musicals. She has also worked with the band as the Color Guard advisor.
Most recently, she was tasked with leading the school-wide incentive team. The team consists of teachers and students who plan and implement positive behavior incentives throughout the school year. During her three years of leadership, she helped steer the school through a pandemic and found creative ways to boost the morale of both the students and teachers whether in person or virtual.
NIKKI GEPHART
Nikki Gephart started her teaching career in 2011 at Chestnut Ridge. She was the alternative education teacher, a cheer advisor, and their after school coordinator.
In 2014, she was hired by Tussey Mountain mainly as a Math 8 teacher and grade 8 STEM teacher, but she has also taught Algebra 1. For a few years, she was part of the school’s Data Analysis team where she dug into data and showed fellow teachers how to use that data to inform their instruction. She continues to track 8th grade math data.
Last year, she was a mentor teacher for a new math colleague, and this year, she had a pre-student teacher from UPJ who did zoom lessons with the students in Nikki’s classes.
After a full day of teaching, Nikki is not done! She stays most nights until 6 pm where she continues in her role as grade 6-12 After School coordinator at Tussey. She leads her staff and students in tutoring sessions and many fun activities.
Nikki Gephart started her teaching career in 2011 at Chestnut Ridge. She was the alternative education teacher, a cheer advisor, and their after school coordinator.
In 2014, she was hired by Tussey Mountain mainly as a Math 8 teacher and grade 8 STEM teacher, but she has also taught Algebra 1. For a few years, she was part of the school’s Data Analysis team where she dug into data and showed fellow teachers how to use that data to inform their instruction. She continues to track 8th grade math data.
Last year, she was a mentor teacher for a new math colleague, and this year, she had a pre-student teacher from UPJ who did zoom lessons with the students in Nikki’s classes.
After a full day of teaching, Nikki is not done! She stays most nights until 6 pm where she continues in her role as grade 6-12 After School coordinator at Tussey. She leads her staff and students in tutoring sessions and many fun activities.
MARIA MANNION
Maria is one of the lead educators for the third grade team at the Chestnut Ridge School District and she is described as a “bundle of energy.” Maria is able to bring out the best in her peers and students. She differentiates her lessons to meet her students’ individual learning styles and her lessons often appeal to the interests of her students. She has a passion for making learning new concepts fun.
She spends hours developing lessons and an environment where children are excited to learn and be a part of her classroom. When walking into Maria's classroom you feel like you are walking into a warm and homey environment and not a "typical" classroom setting. Maria also helps with Lego League Adventures and Heather's Cup events.
Former students describe Maria as being one of their favorite educators because she built them up personally, treated them as individuals and treated them as if each one of them was special to her.
Maria is one of the lead educators for the third grade team at the Chestnut Ridge School District and she is described as a “bundle of energy.” Maria is able to bring out the best in her peers and students. She differentiates her lessons to meet her students’ individual learning styles and her lessons often appeal to the interests of her students. She has a passion for making learning new concepts fun.
She spends hours developing lessons and an environment where children are excited to learn and be a part of her classroom. When walking into Maria's classroom you feel like you are walking into a warm and homey environment and not a "typical" classroom setting. Maria also helps with Lego League Adventures and Heather's Cup events.
Former students describe Maria as being one of their favorite educators because she built them up personally, treated them as individuals and treated them as if each one of them was special to her.
KATHY MILLER
Kathy is a retired elementary art educator from the Northern Bedford Area School District who had a knack for making her students feel special and for touching the lives of her students in small yet truly meaningful ways. Her passion for art excited her students about art.
Kathy also inspired and motivated her colleagues with her work on Visiting Author Projects, the annual elementary art show, making and screen printing sweatshirts for a sixth grade field trip to Baltimore to meet the captain of the Mimi (which was an educational TV show), and through coordinating props for the second grade musicals. The work of her students was visible whether in showcases in the school lobby or at Morrison’s Cove Park for the fall farm shows.
She is as active outside the school as she is inside. Her in-school hats and gloves project evolved into her helping set up the clothing bank (Angels Among Us) at the old Woodbury School.
Kathy is a retired elementary art educator from the Northern Bedford Area School District who had a knack for making her students feel special and for touching the lives of her students in small yet truly meaningful ways. Her passion for art excited her students about art.
Kathy also inspired and motivated her colleagues with her work on Visiting Author Projects, the annual elementary art show, making and screen printing sweatshirts for a sixth grade field trip to Baltimore to meet the captain of the Mimi (which was an educational TV show), and through coordinating props for the second grade musicals. The work of her students was visible whether in showcases in the school lobby or at Morrison’s Cove Park for the fall farm shows.
She is as active outside the school as she is inside. Her in-school hats and gloves project evolved into her helping set up the clothing bank (Angels Among Us) at the old Woodbury School.
AMY SNYDER
Amy Snyder of the Tussey Mountain School District has been teaching at the Tussey Mountain High School over 20 years. She currently teaches 9th and 10th grade English and is the department co-chair.
She is involved with advising many extra-curricular activities. She worked hard behind the scenes to start televised morning announcements at Tussey. She trains the anchors, camera, and sound crews for seamless announcements each day. For a while, she also brought live sports announcing to the internet with Titan Sports Live.
She teaches a popular and fun media class during the day. Most recently, she began teaching journalism- working with the student reporters and creating the first online school newspaper at Tussey. As if she’s not busy enough, she also took on the role of yearbook adviser!
Not only does she work with the students, she also takes time out of her day to help other teachers with educational technology needs.
Amy Snyder of the Tussey Mountain School District has been teaching at the Tussey Mountain High School over 20 years. She currently teaches 9th and 10th grade English and is the department co-chair.
She is involved with advising many extra-curricular activities. She worked hard behind the scenes to start televised morning announcements at Tussey. She trains the anchors, camera, and sound crews for seamless announcements each day. For a while, she also brought live sports announcing to the internet with Titan Sports Live.
She teaches a popular and fun media class during the day. Most recently, she began teaching journalism- working with the student reporters and creating the first online school newspaper at Tussey. As if she’s not busy enough, she also took on the role of yearbook adviser!
Not only does she work with the students, she also takes time out of her day to help other teachers with educational technology needs.