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Joan Batson: Mrs. Batson has been a Natural Science Academy teacher at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History teaching classes on many different sciences including Paleontology, Geology, Entomology, and Archaeology. She has developed museum programs for schools, Scout groups, summer camp, and Homeschoolers. Mrs. Batson taught an Ancient Egypt course for the North Hills Catholic Diocese Middle Schools’ gifted program. She is also a homeschool parent, working with her son from seventh grade through graduation. They were the first, and only, homeschool family in their town and her son was the first homeschool student at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Engineering. Mrs. Batson continues to work with and encourage homeschool families. Also, she says: "I love chocolate!" Her contact info: Joan C. Batson joancbat@comcast.net Home number is 724-643-6334, cell is 724-494-6826.
Julie Costa-Malcolm is currently pursuing a PhD in Theatre and Performance Studies at the University of Pittsburgh, where she has been teaching a variety of performance classes for the past 6 years. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Theatre and Creative Writing from Juniata College. Julie has been writing stories, plays, and poetry since she was 5, and has been doing theatre in some capacity or another since she was 7. Julie's most recent projects (aside from preparing her dissertation and homeschooling her amazing children) have been: co-writing a play with her son, Liam, for Redeye Theatre Project; directing Paula Vogel's Desdemona, a Play about a Handkerchief at Pitt; and directing her original play After Ever After, also at Pitt.
Anita Hager – A long time Enrichment participant and mother to three energetic homeschooled kids, I’ve enjoyed teaching a number of popular classes for a variety of age ranges. I’m convinced that learning and thinking challenging thoughts is one of life’s greatest pleasures, and in this term’s logic class I plan on helping the kids experience the fun of doing so.
Jenny Kalfut: I have a B.A. in Political Science and Literature and a Master's in Education. After working as a classroom teacher for 6 years in early childhood and elementary settings, I have spent the past five years tutoring secondary social studies and English and working as a freelance writer and now homeschool my children, who are 4 and 6. Her contact info: jennykalfut@yahoo.com
Jeffrey McMunn - Graduated from Edinboro University in 1978 with a BFA in drawing. From early 1979 I spent 15 wonderful years working at Gateway Studios, Pittsburgh, doing what I most loved to do and getting paid for it! I was also blessed to work with some of the most talented artists in Pittsburgh. After Gateway folded in 1995, I tried freelance work. Not nearly as fun - lots of occasional schmoozing, but I missed the cameraderie. I did get to work for some wonderful clients (Westinghouse, Pizza Outlet, InPittsburgh, the Post Gazette) and saw some of my work reach a wide audience; very gratifying! But freelancing involves WAY too much paperwork, so I now work part time at Trader Joe's, a new grocery store in East Liberty, and just do the occasional illustration when time and deadlines permit. I look forward to sharing my enthusiasm for the art of cartooning with the children of PALS.
Marissa Morrison - I am a certified teacher (English and communications). I taught middle school for 5 years. Before that I studied journalism and theater, and worked as an editor for the World Book Encyclopedia. My 3-year-old did a couple PALS classes this spring, and I’m very happy to have found this group.
Geneva Pullen - I am a mom who has homeschooled her family for the last eight years. We've popped in and out of PALS enrichment, but this is my first time teaching. We loved Story of the World, and wanted to share it with the community.
Jay Pullen - A graduate of West Virginia State University in Economics and Political Science, I currently work at Dick's Sporting Goods as a store merchandise planner. I'm a homeschooling dad to a 12 year old daughter and 8 year old son. I've always loved discourse in life's big questions. It's not about who is right, it's about developing, refining and testing what you think.
Alan Scheller-Wolf: I am a professor of production and operations management at the Tepper school of business at Carnegie Mellon University. My research is in applied probability and stochastic processes (random processes that evolve over time) with applications in business and computer science. I also have experience teaching mathematics to junior high school age students in the Peace Corps. His contact info: Alan Scheller-Wolf awolf@andrew.cmu.edu
Shaloma Smith - Received her BA in Chinese from Indiana University in Bloomington, with minors in History and Music. She is a state-certified Chinese teacher and has participated in competitive grant-funded teacher-training programs at Middlebury College and the University of Hawaii. She is a returning PALS teacher, having taught with us for 5 years, and has also taught in both public and private schools at the K-12 levels in various settings, including combined age and level classes. With a focus on true communication and involvement in the classroom, community, and beyond, she uses a student-centered, culture-based, and interactive approach to teaching languages, and is the proud teacher of many students who have been awarded significant grants and scholarships to continue studying Chinese in China and in US university programs. She also worked as an Italian and Chinese staff interpreter and translator for the UPMC hospitals. Shaloma lived and studied in East Asia and Europe for 8 years and now resides in the great city of Pittsburgh with her two lovely daughters, Sofia and Alessandra, and their dog, Chocolate, and two cats, Minnie and Micia.
Dara Swartwout - Is a multi-talented artist living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her husband Peter and their two energetic children. She has been making beautiful jewelry from hand-blown glass beads for almost 20 years now. Found objects and repurposed materials figure heavily in Dara's work. See for example her newest line, Leather and Lace.
Lynn Urbina – (Teen Teacher) Has been taking dance classes since she was four years old. She performed month long Christmas shows in Kaufmanns for three years in a row, and participated in numerous Chinese performances in the city of Pittsburgh. Molly Urbina has also done all the above performances along with Lynn.
Molly Urbina – (Teen Teacher) Started doing origami at a very young age and has strong fine motor skills. She is always fascinated with intricate shapes and figures. Her ability to reproduce and create is something she would like to share with others. Lynn Urbina will be a very helpful assistant since she has similar skills.
Lawrence Wray - When I was in the second grade, Mrs Dellis let me write stories in class. I kept writing, and a while later studied in the creative writing program at the University of Arizona. Through philosophy, comparative literature, and English programs, I taught first and second-year students at Binghamton and Duquesne universities, and a handful of other places after that. I like to write, poetry especially.