Chalked Up: Community members helping PTC students; Sewickley Academy librarian honored

Chalked Up is a monthly column looking at issues affecting Beaver Valley schools.

As students are displaced by the closure of Pittsburgh Technical College later this summer, local organizations are offering support to those working to continue their degrees.

After the announcement was made last month that the North Fayette Township-based college would be closing in August, support has been coming in from state agencies and local community members for students affected by the closure. Many students will be dislocated and their program completions impacted by PTC's decision, but several options are being offered for those looking to continue their education.

Several teach-out plans are being offered by local colleges, such as the Community College of Allegheny County and the Community College of Beaver County, to allow students to complete the programs they started at PTC. The list of programs can be found on the Department of Education's website , as well as a full list of contact information for department heads at PTC for students to contact for assistance in transitioning.

Records from the college, such as transcripts, diplomas and employee documents, will now be housed and maintained by staff at Point Park University. The university said it will hold the records, both digital and physical, in perpetuity. This decision will allow the community from PTC to have a reliable way to access these documents.

“We are honored to take on this important responsibility as our community reacts to the sad news of Pittsburgh Technical College's closure after more than 75 years of service," said Chris Brussalis, president of Point Park University. "Ensuring these records are properly maintained is critical for the current students, alumni and former employees of this respected institution. Point Park is committed to being a trusted steward of such an impactful academic legacy."

In addition to holding the schools' records, Point Park University is working to accommodate former PTC students. Some of the programs being focused on by the university include biological sciences, civil engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and several paths within the School of Communication.

“We exist as a university to support, educate and advance our region,” Brussalis said. “Losing a school like Pittsburgh Technical College is sad and very disruptive to the community, and it is important that we do what we can to assist those impacted by its closing.”

As PTC joins several other higher education in closing recently, the PIA School for Aviation Maintenance has started a new grant for students displaced by the closure. The trade school, which offers an aviation maintenance program in Pittsburgh and Youngstown, will provide $1,500 per term for students.

“At PIA, we understand that this is a time of uncertainty & frustration for all students who have been affected by the sudden closure of their school,” said Suzanne Markle, president and CEO of PIA. “Our entire PIA community is prepared to support students who seek a reputable and reliable pathway toward a career as aviation maintenance technicians.”

Sewickley Academy librarian honored with Educator of the Year award from News Literacy Project

On June 13, a local librarian was announced as the recipient of this year's "Alan C. Miller Educator of the Year" for her efforts to improve news literacy for her students.

The award was presented to Lindsay Downs, who works as the librarian at Sewickley Academy, by the News Literacy Project. The educational nonprofit gives the award annually to teachers who effectively incorporate lessons about new literacy in their curriculum, which allows students to critically read and analyze content from news media to better understand mass communications messages.

“I am so excited to be receiving the Alan C Miller Educator of the Year Award,” Downs said. “It’s really amazing to empower others to be the managers of their own learning. You’re teaching people how to be independent learners, and that’s a very powerful thing.”

According to the News Literacy Project, the award is named after the Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Alan Miller, who worked at the Los Angeles Times for over 21 years. To honor his contributions to the field of journalism, the nonprofit offers this award in his name, offering praise for teachers like Downs who are helping their students better understand media messages.

As some of the students at Sewickley Academy will be voters this fall, Downs has stressed the importance of critical reading and encouraging civil discourse on topics. She calls her lessons a "labor of love," as teaching students to learn how to critically analyze content, whether online, on TV or in print, helps them become critical thinkers and more passionate about learning each day.

“I think that my responsibility as an educator to prepare voters is to really help them critically think about information," Downs said. "It's not so much what to think, but how to think.”

In discussions around the award, Downs has pushed for other educators to incorporate news literacy lessons in their curriculum. One example cited by the librarian was a recent collaboration she did with the school's science teacher on a climate change project, with lessons for students including how to spot misinformation or manipulated data.

More education news to note:

• On June 14, the Ambridge CCBC Aviation Alumni Scholarship announced its inaugural recipient would be Alaina Huey. The young pilot received a $1,000 award from the new committee, which is focused on helping Ambridge students interested in the aviation field pay for their education. As it celebrates its first award recipient, the committee is encouraging other Ambridge and CCBC alumni in the aviation industry to get involved with the committee throughout the year.
• Teamsters at Penn State University, who are represented by Local 8, have voted to authorize a strike for their 2,500 employees who provide a variety of services for the college. The union said the vote would allow the negotiating committee to call a strike if it doesn't get the stronger contract it is seeking. In a statement to media outlets, the union said it is asking for fair compensation and better working conditions. If the strike does occur, employees working at the Penn State-Beaver campus would be affected.
• On June 29, the 2024 Dom Viccari-McDonald’s of Ellwood City Scholarship was awarded to Ryan Turner, a senior at Lincoln Junior-Senior High School. According to the award committee, Turner was selected for the $1,000 award due to his academic success and dedication to community service, echoing the values that Viccari had embodied in his service to the Ellwood City community.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Chalked Up: Community members helping PTC students; Sewickley Academy librarian honored