'Staff of Seneca Valley'
Volunteering with my therapy dogs, Sophia and Levi, during the opening day of the new landside terminal at Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) was an experience I will always remember. Both pups are certified therapy dogs through Alliance of Therapy Dogs and proud members of PIT PAWS, a group of more than forty dogs who help create a welcoming and calming environment for travelers.
My connection to the airport goes back to childhood. My dad flew for USAir, USA 3000, and now American Airlines, so PIT has always felt like a second home. That early love of aviation carried into my classroom, where students board “Dr. S-West Airlines” each day and take on roles like Captain, Co-Pilot and Flight Crew. Those roles help us learn that every person has a seat, every job has value and every voice matters. Watching Sophia and Levi connect with travelers on opening day reminded me of those same values of belonging and kindness.
Opening day was full of memorable moments. We were interviewed by Pittsburgh Today Live and WTAE about the PIT PAWS program, and passengers enjoyed collecting the dogs’ trading cards with their favorite treats and quirks. The biggest surprise was running into my own fourth grade teacher Mrs. Patterson, which made the day feel truly full circle since I teach fourth grade now.
Some of my favorite times at the airport are our Friday evening visits. Ending the week with Sophia and Levi greeting travelers always helps me start my weekend on a PAWsitive note. During my doctoral program, those visits gave me the balance and encouragement I needed to keep pushing toward the finish line.
Although we will miss the old tram rides, the new landside terminal is beautiful, and the people there are what make PIT such a special place. Sophia, Levi and I are grateful for the friendships we have built with airport employees and fellow PIT PAWS teams, and we look forward to many more visits ahead.
As a child, my parents encouraged me to embrace life’s opportunities—whether across the globe or just across the street. My mother especially lived with intention. She had a deep love for people and their stories, and her friendships brought new cultures, languages, and foods into our home. I vividly remember one close friend from India draping a saree around me and teaching me exactly which curry to order when she took us to the best authentic restaurant in town. My mom was fully present in all that brought her joy. Travel and culture were true passions of hers, and she passed that love down to me. I hope I am instilling this spirit in my two children.
I love adventure and learning new things, visiting new places, meeting people, picking up hobbies, trying new foods... Bring it on! I’m not sentimental in the traditional way. My diplomas and wedding photos are likely tucked away in storage. I consider myself a collector of experiences rather than things.
During my junior year of college in the ‘90s, I spotted a flyer on a bulletin board— “Summer Experiential Learning Term,” led by my favorite professor, a brilliant educator who inspired curiosity. I was in. We were headed to Costa Rica to study Sustainable Development: ecotourism, biodiversity, and shade-grown coffee. Our home base was tucked into a local neighborhood, marked by a painted sign that read La Casa Que Canta (The House That Sings)—charming and unforgettable. My Spanish was fair (I knew the essentials, like helado for ice cream), so a classmate and I joined Spanish night classes for fun.
On our second night, after Spanish class in bustling San José, a classmate and I stopped for helado and boarded what we thought was our bus home. But each stop grew less familiar—we were completely lost. With no cell phones or GPS, we eventually got off at a rural stop. Helpful taxi drivers and police asked for our address. Street name? House number? We had no clue. I finally offered, “La Casa Que Canta—The House That Sings.” The native Spanish speakers burst into laughter—so hard it brought tears. Needless to say, somehow, we made it home.
The weeks that followed included sleeping under rainforest canopies you'd only imagine in photographs—reachable only by horseback or brave hikers (we did plenty of both); relaxing on black sand beaches; a scorpion sting to a group member (he was okay!); and, of course, lots of helado.
Adventure and an open mind have guided me throughout life, each challenge shaping who I am. From ziplining through mountains, swimming with manatees, and hiking to the Rock of Gibraltar to a transformative study tour of Poland with Classrooms Without Borders, I’ve always sought meaningful experiences that push me to grow. My love for teaching has deepened through learning alongside others and embracing diverse perspectives. Now, 25 years after getting lost in Costa Rica with only La Casa Que Canta as my compass, I still leap at every opportunity to try something new—always ready for the next adventure.
Having navigated unfamiliar settings myself, I now find immense joy in supporting all students and families, especially those from multilingual backgrounds—as they build a sense of welcome and belonging within the Seneca Valley community. Drawing on my experience as an ESL teacher and now as Rowan’s acting assistant principal, I strive to create an inclusive environment where every family feels valued and where we grow and learn together.
- Ms. Jessica Scerbo, Rowan Elementary Acting Assistant Principal
“The best things in life happen unexpectedly. The best stories begin with “and all of a sudden…” The best adventures were never planned as they turned out to be.” – The Mind Journal
August 2019 changed our family’s story unexpectedly, and for the better. If you know anything about Adoption, you never know when, who or how someone may come into your life. We had been called a few times before to get prepared, a baby is coming, and then they didn’t. But each of those moments were leading to Megan. I got a phone call at school one day in August from our Case Worker at Adoption Connection and this time she said “This is it. Have a car seat in your car, she’ll be home to you tomorrow.” 24 hours’ notice, we had things “ready” at our house for months in anticipation but now we knew we needed some girl clothes! “She” will be here tomorrow. Thank goodness for an amazing family and close friends who helped us finish getting everything we needed that night!
She was just 8 months old at the time, and from the moment she arrived, she filled our lives with so much love and happiness. The process of adoption, however, was not without its challenges, especially given the fact that shortly into our journey the pandemic began. With courthouses closing and many procedures moving online, the path to finalizing Megan’s adoption was filled with delays and uncertainties. Despite these hurdles, we remained full steam ahead in our commitment to making Megan a permanent part of our family.
Megan’s adoption was finalized just before her second birthday, on December 11th, 2020. The day was a culmination of over a year of waiting, hoping, and navigating the complexities of the adoption process. It was a moment of immense relief and joy, knowing that Megan was officially and forever our daughter.
During this extended time, we also became pregnant and welcomed our son Easton to the family, in October 2020. The pandemic may have brought a tremendous number of emotions and adjustments but also so much joy to the Womer Family. I always must point out that the support from Adoption Connection through all of this was out of this world for anyone considering fostering or adopting.
Reflecting on this journey, we are filled with gratitude for the resilience and love that have defined our family. Megan has grown into a bright, curious, and loving little girl who brings joy to everyone she meets. Watching her bond with her younger brother Easton has been one of the greatest rewards. The sibling relationship they have is strong!
Adopting Megan has taught us the true meaning of patience, perseverance, and unconditional love. It has also highlighted the importance of community and support systems, as we could not have navigated this journey alone. The support Jeremy and I received from SV and our building families was just one of many reasons we saw how blessed we are!
We are excited to continue watching Megan and Easton grow and thrive. Our adoption story is a reminder that even in the face of adversity great things can happen with love and determination. We are eternally grateful for the opportunity to be Megan’s parents and to witness the incredible person she is becoming.
- Ms. Melissa Womer, Ehrman Crest Elementary School Librarian
In 2017, I was hired as an emotional and autistic support teacher at Evans City Middle School. Little did I know that my colleague and mentor would not only share the same job title and position but also the same last name.
We quickly became known as “The Reynolds,” “Reynolds 1” and “Reynolds 2,” “the taller one” and “the shorter one,” “W. Reynolds” and “D. Reynolds.” We jokingly told our students that we were sisters or a mother/daughter duo. From day one, we supported each other professionally—not just in spirit, but also in practice. We encouraged one another on difficult days, connected with each other’s students, updated each other on best practices, and collaborated closely, striving together to plant seeds of growth in our students. As colleagues, together, we thrived.
In July 2006, Wanda gave birth to her third son, Connor. Shortly after his birth, complications ensued, and Wanda found herself thrust into the world of disability and medically complex parenting. In May 2008, Connor passed away, likely from mitochondrial disease, though this was never formally confirmed.
After our first school year as “Team Reynolds,” I had my first child, a daughter named Avery, in July 2018. Three days later, I found myself calling Wanda from Children’s Hospital at 5:00 in the morning. Like Wanda, I was suddenly thrown into the world of disability and medically complex parenting. In November 2019, Avery was diagnosed with Trisomy 12p, requiring lifelong care.
Throughout my parenting journey and Avery’s diagnosis, Wanda was there every step of the way. Her love and support helped us thrive not just as colleagues, but as mothers. Together, we thrived in the face of personal challenges.
Though years apart, our shared personal experiences profoundly impacted our professional lives. Experiencing the challenges of parenting children with disabilities gave each of us a deeper understanding and empathy for the families and students we served. We became more patient, compassionate, and resilient—qualities that were invaluable in our roles as support teachers. We knew firsthand the emotional toll that complex medical conditions and disability can have on a family, which allowed us to connect more meaningfully with our students’ parents and offer them the kind of support that only someone who has walked a similar path can provide.
Moreover, our personal experiences gave us a unique perspective on the importance of fostering a supportive, inclusive environment for all students. Because we understood the significance of small victories and the power of encouragement, together, we thrived. This connection between our personal and professional lives became the foundation of our success.
We have supported each other both personally and professionally—on good days and bad, through ups and downs, grief and celebration. With our unwavering commitment to our students and their families, our colleagues, spouses, and children, together, Team Reynolds thrives. We thrive together because of our connection as women, mothers, and teachers. We thrive together because we learn from one another, challenge one another, and strive to lead with love, patience, and kindness. In every aspect of our journey, we’ve proven that together, we thrive.
- Danielle Reynolds, ECMS Emotional and Autistic Support Teacher, written in reflection of the "Together WE Thrive" theme for the District's All-Staff Welcome Back Event held on Aug. 16, 2024.
Have you ever wondered why things happen the way they do? Have you ever thought the flutter of a butterfly’s wings across the world could somehow create a chain reaction of events that affect the way your life plays out? I have never thought about this until I met my husband in Paris, France thanks to a simple interaction with a substitute teacher at CVE.
“Bonjour!” “Merci!” “Oui!”
The school year was winding down and every so often I would faintly hear these French words coming from the classroom next door. The homeroom teacher was absent that day and she had a substitute. Coincidentally, I was planning a trip to France with my brother for my 30th birthday that summer.
Introducing myself to the substitute was easy as I always love meeting new people. I also thought of it as an opportunity to perhaps learn something about French culture and etiquette.
“Hi there!” “Bonjour!” — Our first interaction and we immediately got to talking about my trip. It turns out she loves France and even splits her time between here and there throughout the year. We kept in touch, and she helped me plan out many details of my European adventure.
Jumping ahead to June 11, 2022, and I found myself visiting a beautiful castle called Château de Chantilly on the outskirts of Paris with none other than the French teacher (who I started to call Madame) as my own personal tour guide.
Some of her family lives close by so we had planned an afternoon picnic and visit of the castle. Her son Michael, who lives a stone’s throw away, had seen it enough times and suggested renting golf carts to explore the grounds instead. I was not going to pass up the opportunity to ride around in a golf cart so there I found myself, driving around a castle with the most perfect French man.
I texted my mom and my friends back home to tell them I found the one. I knew at that moment we would get married someday.
Two days later my trip came to an end, but the most beautiful love story was just beginning. A six-hour time difference and an ocean stood between us for nine months until Michael finally moved back to Pittsburgh in the winter of 2023 after living in Paris for 11 years. Six months later we were married, and the rest is magnifique!
Just like the butterfly sending off tiny ripples in the air, I believe everything that happened that year was part of a butterfly effect. If the teacher next door hadn’t been absent, she wouldn’t have had a substitute. If I had not been planning a trip to France, I wouldn’t have told the substitute about my summer plans. If that substitute hadn’t invited her son, or if he ended up working that day, we would have never met, and Madame wouldn’t have become my mother-in-law!
Et mon française? Je l'améliore avec chaque jour qui passe!
- Amanda Longello, Ehrman Crest second grade teacher