9 teachers earn Red Apple Awards
Red Apple Awards are given to a teacher from each district in the county and the colleges by the United Way of Butler County.
Nominations were taken this spring and the winners were selected by a committee of community leaders. Winners were announced Thursday morning at the United Way breakfast.
Karen Pugh is a speech and language therapist for the Butler School District, where she's been employed for 31 years.Her service to students with special needs is described as "life changing," helping them break down barriers and giving them hope. At Center Township School, she was instrumental in securing and installing FM systems in many classrooms and the school library. These systems allow a teacher's instruction to be amplified and heard equally from all corners of a classroom, something especially helpful to students with auditory and language challenges.She leads workshops for district staff to help them effectively work with children who stutter and to effectively apply speech and language strategies to support learning in reading and language arts. Pugh served on a team to develop the speech and pathology section for the Pennsylvania State Teacher's Exam and was selected to write questions for the exam. She has conducted workshops for other institutions such as Easter Seals, Clarion State College, and Intermediate Units 4 and 6. She serves as a mentor for new speech therapists and provides free screenings for referred preschoolers.She is active in her church as Clerk of Session, in the choir, as a Bible School teacher and youth group mentor. She also served as a team parent on the Butler Boys Scholastic Lacrosse Association Board.
James Nicodemus has been teaching for 33 years in Butler County and developed the carpentry program for the Butler County Vo-Tech School, which is now a state-of-the-art facility, including cutting wood with a light beam.He led the construction of the press box for Butler's Art Bernardi Stadium, the salt box for Butler School District, the Butler Intermediate School soccer concession stand, the press box for Knoch High School, the name plate for the press box at Seneca Valley High School and the Moniteau High School memorial sign. He spent much of his own time helping students with construction projects, including the Butler State Police Annex building, the Connoquenessing Borough Building and Connoquenessing Township Commissioners Meeting desk.He has worked with the Housing Authority of Butler County and Habitat for Humanity on various projects.Nicodemus supports Victory Bible camp, and while on a trip to Alaska, volunteered on a church building project.
Mary Ann Hiser is a professor of nursing for BC3, where she's been teaching since 1987. She is described as a "master teacher," providing one-on-one instruction and assistance to students, both in the classroom and clinical environments. She assisted in writing and obtaining a grant from the National Library of Medicine to equip the library classroom with a wireless computer to promote health information literacy for faculty, students and nurses in the community.Hiser was the faculty sponsor for the nursing club, was co-chair of the program evaluation committee, is team co-chair for the Middle States Accreditation, and also served on search committees and committees for the Convocation Center renovation and the Ruby Ball. She was named to Who's Who among American College Teachers and has published audiotapes for review for the State Board exams.She is active in the Butler branch of the American Association of University Women, serving as past president and named 1997 Outstanding Woman of the Year.She volunteers at flu shot clinics and for Christ Community United Methodist Church, teaching Bible Study and Youth Group.
Pat Bell is a 10th grade English teacher at Karns City High School, where she has been employed for 14 of her 20 years of teaching.Her students are impressed with her creativity and spontaneity, and especially enjoy her work as adviser for the poetry club. She developed a study skills program for the Butler Library Summer Program, as well as Bella Verita, a program promoting self-esteem sophomore and junior girls. She wrote "Award Winning Strategies for Teaching in Today's Public School" and received the Lifetouch Award for Outstanding Teacher for Inspirational Lessons. An accomplished poet, Bell has been featured in the Pittsburgh-Western PA Writing Project and is a Western PA Writing Project Fellow.She's been published in the English Journal of the National Council of English Teachers and in Riverspeak and has done readings at the University of Pittsburgh.In the community, Bell was the former president of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce and served on the Boards of ARC, United Cerebral Palsy, and the Girl Scouts. She is currently leading the Christian Writers Workshop at First United Methodist Church, where she also serves on the planning committee. She's been the featured guest speaker for conferences and community groups throughout the region.
Phyllis Laporte has taught at Mars Elementary School for 34 years, where she currently teaches fourth grade. She serves on the Mars District Steering Committee, the Act 178 Committee, and the textbook selection committee.She has directed the elementary school plays and organized career day, a learning fair and Read Across America. She is a member of the National Education Association, the International Reading Association and the Mars Area Education Association, under which she served as membership chair, building representative and on the scholarship committee.In the community, Laporte was active in PTO, on the board of directors for the Butler County Traveling Library, where she also served as president, was a Brownie and Girl Scout Leader for 10 years and Boy Scout and Cub Scout leader for three years. She is on the Butler School District Parent Steering Committee and serves as chaperone for the dance team. She's held several offices in the Butler Chapter of Soroptimist International and the General Federation of Women's Club of Butler County.Laporte was named Outstanding Citizen for East Butler and has volunteered with the American Cancer Society, the Bike Rodeo, Associated Artists, VOICe and The United Way. She is also a member of Eastern Star Chapter 45, where she served as Worthy Matron from 1981 to 1982.
Kathleen Kriebel is a fifth-grade reading teacher at Dassa McKinney Elementary School. She is described by her peers as "motivational" and a "mentor," playing an active role in professional development at Moniteau.She established a parent volunteer reading program at Dassa McKinney. She is an active member of her church choir and spends her free time caring for her husband, who became physically handicapped more than 10 years ago.Seneca Valley Schools Michael ManipoleMichael Manipole is the physical education teacher at Rowan Elementary School. Parents and students describe him as a "legend" with an energy level higher than any elementary child. He knows all 900 students by name, and often makes up fun nicknames for them as well. At Rowan, he is a regular at PTA meetings, coordinates a Punt, Pass and Kick contest and Field Day, as well as an after-school intramurals program. He was instrumental in the completion of a memorial garden and outdoor learning area, and holds a "Bring Your Parent to Gym Class Day" each year.Manipole coordinated events to raise money for the Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield Caring Place for grieving children and the Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund. He also planned the funding and construction of a rock wall at Rowan. He serves on the Seneca Valley School District's Wellness Committee and is a Teacher's Excellence Foundation Finalist for Teacher of the Year. He received the "Service Above Self" award from the Cranberry Rotary Club and is a North Hills Magazine Person of Distinction.In the community, he is the logistics chair for the Cranberry Township Relay for Life, is the host coordinator for the Hoops for Heart for the American Heart Association, participates in the Muscular Dystrophy Lock-Up and fitness day, and volunteers for the Cranberry Township Community Days and Night Out Against Crime.
Rebecca Sopher is the music teacher at Moraine Elementary School. She organized the Five Star Chorus, a select elementary chorus that performs at community events, and was selected to sing the National Anthem at a Pirate's game at PNC Park.Parents say she inspires her students and leads by example. She has been the co-vocal director, rehearsal accompanist, show accompanist and pit band director for the Slippery Rock High School musicals for the past 10 years.In the community, Rebecca directs the Harrisville Community Band, is the ACTS Community Choir Accompanist and was the Choir Director for the Harmony United Presbyterian Church.
Kenneth Elliot is the physical education teacher for South Butler Primary School. His peers say he is loved by all students, and, like Manipole, knows all 700 students by name.He "hops" for the Leukemia Society, participates in the yearly fifth grade track meet and in McTeacher Night at the local McDonald's Restaurant. He coaches high school football and was the Assistant Coach for the NAFCA All Star Football Game.Elliot donates monthly prizes to the Primary School Primary Pride program, is chairman for the Knoch Home Basketball Half-time Shoot-outs, plays in the Steeler-Faculty basketball game, chairs after-game refreshments for the Knoch baseball team and volunteers for the dunk tank for the end of the school year celebration.In the community, he is an active member of the Knights of Columbus, doing highway cleanup and raising money through basketball events. He is active in his church and is a caring neighbor.
