Thank you, charter school teachers! 

For Teacher Appreciation Week (May 4-8), we want to celebrate Pennsylvania’s charter school teachers and the incredible work they do every day for their students. Teachers, you make it possible for 143,000 families in Pennsylvania to choose charter schools, and they want to say thank you! 

Below are just a few stories from 143K Rising families about teachers who have made a real difference in their students’ lives. 

Pennsylvania’s charter schools are in danger of losing funding. You can protect these inspirational teachers by contacting your lawmakers and telling them not to cut charter school funding! 

Northwest | Northeast | Northcentral | Southcentral | Southeast | Southwest

Northwest Pennsylvania 

Ms. Milano, Charter School of Excellence
Submitted by Sandy W., Erie
“Ms. Milano has been a wonderful middle school teacher for both of my kids! She always has time for her kids, even when they have moved on to high school and graduated. She's a young mom who is full of energy, great ideas, and cares for the kids she instructs. LOVE her!” 

Northeast Pennsylvania 

Tara Grather, Circle of Seasons Charter School
Submitted by Melanie, Fleetwood
“Mrs. Grather has helped our child feel extremely happy, connected and secure in first grade. I could see how effective her community and classroom relationship was when COVID-19 made us all have to stay home and learn virtually. Mrs. Grather and the whole school helped us by not pushing too hard at first and allowing families to feel they could proceed slowly and without stress. Working parents could still feel able to adapt along with the school in trying times instead of rushing right in and feeling like they could potentially be left behind. Mrs. Grather has worked overtime to build a wonderful website, activity portal and remains the shining star in my daughter's morning.”

Jennifer Nester, PA Virtual Charter School
Submitted by Sondra, Hazleton
“Jennifer Nester really goes out of her way to help families and students get the hang of virtual schooling and make them feel comfortable.”

Allison Santos, Commonwealth Charter Academy
Submitted by Michelle, Stroudsburg
“She truly loves my child and always makes sure all is well with her.” 

Jenna Piaskowski, Reach Cyber Charter School
Submitted by Tracy, Bethlehem
“She has taken the time to help my son excel in his social studies classes through phone calls and one-on-one instruction. My son feels like she is a friend. She goes above and beyond to help her students and is also teaching kindness through her personality.”

Alexandra Webb Agora Cyber Charter School
Submitted by Shari, Shickshinny
“She is a great math teacher and so special. She is always willing to help us.”

Michael McQuillan, Agora Cyber Charter School
Submitted by Denise, Effort
“Mr. McQuillan is just a great teacher. My daughter was bullied and it's important to make a connection with her, and he has absolutely done that. I just love a teacher that takes the time to explain things. Thank you.”

Ryan Bucks, Commonwealth Charter Academy
Submitted by Kimberly, Whitehall
“Mr. Bucks has a dynamic teaching style. He is high energy. He has spent individual time assisting my student with his writing process. He has made learning fun and interesting again for my student. CCA has many amazing teachers, he is definitely one.”

Carol Newell, PA Cyber Charter School.
Submitted by Melissa, Nanticoke
“She is AMAZING because she has been super engaging this school year. She sends a fun weekly newsletter to all of the parents and students so that we know what to expect for the week. She gives great feedback on all of his turned in assignments and is super encouraging to her students. Truly one of the best!”

Mr. Mark Major, Gillingham Charter School, Pottsville
Submitted by Kathryn L., Barnesville
“Mr. Major is truly an exceptional teacher. He goes above and beyond for my daughter. I could never thank him enough. She wouldn’t be where she is academically without him.”

Northcentral Pennsylvania

Jessica Durian, Young Scholars
Submitted by Katie, Bellefonte
“Jessica is the support teacher who has worked with both of my grandsons to get them on grade level and to work on behavioral issues. She is firm and yet kind/compassionate. She has been good with me since I have custody of the boys. She has helped me with their studies to help them. Jessica cares!"

Julie Rininger, Hope for Hyndman
Submitted by Charlene, Bedford County
“Julie is friendly, caring and well-educated.”

Megan Kiebler, Agora Cyber Charter
Submitted by Sherri, Coal Township
“She listens to the parents to understand how to help her students achieve their best academically. When my daughter was stressing over tests, Ms. Kiebler took the time to administer a test one-on-one to see exactly where she was struggling to help her improve.”

Southcentral Pennsylvania 

Mrs. Hicks, Commonwealth Charter Academy
Submitted by Jade, Dillsburg
“Mrs. Hicks is a wonderful teacher who truly cares about her students.”

Crystal Miller, teacher at Commonwealth Charter Academy
Submitted by Cheryl, Dauphin County
“She is very patient and engaging with my 2nd grader and his classmates, which can be challenging in a virtual environment. She is very good at ‘classroom’ management.”

Pamela Seager, Agora Cyber Charter School
Submitted by Sharon, Carlisle
“Two of my children had Ms. Seager for English. In a letter to the principal at the time, I stated that there must be two Ms. Seagers since it was impossible that one teacher could make herself available to the degree that she did for my children and others. She played a key role in teaching writing to both of my children and was the catalyst for my daughter's blooming into a gifted writer.”

Casey Marshall, Agora Cyber Charter School
Submitted by Kathleen, Lancaster
“She makes math class engaging for all the students and especially my son.”

Southeast Pennsylvania 

Karla Beadle, Agora Cyber Charter School
Submitted by Almeta, Philadelphia 
“My son's special education teacher has helped us get closer to our education goals and takes the time to understand and support the different abilities and strengths of the children in her class.”

Mrs. Bixby, Franklin Towne Charter School
Submitted by Shirley, Philadelphia 
“She is the best teacher. She helped my son’s reading level to go up to first grade level from kindergarten. He is doing amazing because of loving and caring from a great teacher like her. Thank you.”

Michelle Verbecken, Agora Cyber Charter School
Submitted by Hazel, Philadelphia 
“Mrs. Verbecken teaches the second grade and first grade advanced learning program. She is a wonderful teacher and support for my second grade student. She challenges the kids to take their time to think before answering questions and sends them books that aren't supplied from K-12. She is always willing to help. Her classes are fun and all of the kids love her dearly. My child has grown so much from this lady, especially his vocabulary, reading, and writing skills. I couldn't ask for a better teacher.”

Amy Farabaugh, Souderton Charter School
Submitted by Victoria, Souderton 
“She really is hands on with my daughter and always willing to go the extra mile to teach.”
Nominated by Rajy, Schwenksville
“She is very attentive, caring and encouraging while pushing the kids to do their best.”

Mrs. Perri and Ms. Keasey, Collegium Charter School
Submitted by Rebeca, Chester County 
“My daughter has selective mutism, and Mrs. Perri and Ms. Keasey have done everything in their power to make my daughter feel comfortable in the classroom and still learn.”

Sarah Farr, Collegium Charter School
Submitted by Stephanie, Chester County
“She came to our class shortly before the pandemic. She has made class fun. She made it fun to learn. Since being out of school she has gone above and beyond to stay in touch with her class, as well as the parents.”

Eileen Keller, Renaissance Academy Charter School
Submitted by Lois, Chester County 
“Eileen has been the music teacher for 17 years, bringing joy and happiness to K-5 children in a way that lets them get to have fun while learning.”

Tyler Groff, Renaissance Academy Charter School
Submitted by Karen, Phoenixville 
“He makes learning a lot of fun!”

Vanessa Ludwig, Gillingham Charter School
Submitted by Michael, Frackville
“Vanessa has complete and total dedication to her students. Thank you!”

Erin Jackson, Agora Cyber Charter School
Submitted by Shimara, Philadelphia
“She has so much patience when dealing with so many children. She is nice and always makes me feel comfortable asking any questions I have. Her teaching skills are awesome, and I seem to catch on to a lot by the way she explains things. Mrs. Jackson rocks!

Erin Freynik, PA Virtual Charter School
Submitted by Natasha, Philadelphia
“Erin Freynik has strong credentials in classroom technology. Our son, who is in first grade, just completed his first novel book report as well as a diorama to explain the components of a grasslands habitat. Both projects required oral presentations. Mrs. Freynik also encourages her first graders to take notes during class. Our son is bilingual and has weekly ‘boost’ sessions with his teacher and a support teacher who helps reinforce his phonetic awareness and reading fluency skills. He loves his teachers and is fully engaged during classes."

Melissa Sauro, PA Virtual Charter School
Submitted by Natasha, Philadelphia
“Our daughter is a top third grader in Mrs. Melissa Sauro's class. She has attended PA Virtual since first grade. Mrs. Sauro is an excellent teacher with a master’s degree. She has challenged our daughter throughout the year with a range of special assignments like writing essays, business letters, etc. Our daughter is presently working on completing her first ‘research paper’ using references and citations."

Shelly McGlothlin, Agora Cyber Charter School
Submitted by Johanna in Phoenixville
“All of my teachers are special. It is too hard to pick just one teacher. My LAC2 teacher is always in an infectious good mood. She is always there to answer my questions and to explain things as many times as it takes and in as many ways, until I understand the assignment or subject. She is always patient and has a terrific sense of humor.”

Southwest Pennsylvania 

LeAnne Wikert, Propel Braddock Hills
Submitted by Autumn, Pittsburgh 
“Mrs. Wikert is a wonderful teacher. She cares about her students and takes the time to make sure the math topics are completely understood. She's able to get the students to work together and encourage one another while helping each other when necessary. Still making sure that the students progressing ahead of others are recognized, rewarded and engaged with other resources.”

Travis Rigby, Westinghouse Arts Academy
Submitted by Erica, Allegheny County
“He supports all of his students and makes sure every one of them knows how talented they are in their own special way. He makes an effort to encourage students to work towards a solution instead of taking an easy way out. He makes each student feel welcome in his classroom and is always willing to help.”

Hilary Witowich, Baden Academy
Submitted by Aubrey, Beaver County 
“Mrs. Witowich was my daughter’s first grade teacher for the last two years. She is truly an open and honest teacher who had my daughter’s best interest at hand. She worked with other staff members and myself to guide and support extensive testing to pinpoint my daughter’s delayed development. I always appreciated her honesty and the care that she showed to make sure my daughter had the proper one-on-one attention and tailored curriculum to help her succeed. I would like to thank her for her compassion. As a parent, I treasure this because she didn't let my daughter slide under the radar to the next grade level while struggling.”

Nicole Carson, PA Cyber Charter School
Submitted by Jamie, East McKeesport
“She has gone above and beyond to teach math skills necessary for my son’s age. He understands and cannot wait each day for his math lesson! She is an amazing teacher. We love her!”

Bryan Davidson, PA Cyber Charter School
Submitted by Sandra, Aliquippa
“He works ’round the clock to help students write and learn to love to read.”

Kalina Kowitz, PA Virtual Charter School
Submitted by Barbara, Wexford 
“She takes the time with all the children in class to make the learning experience special and is patient with the students to make them all feel included and accepted.”

Ms. Imbriale, PA Cyber Charter School
Submitted by Nicole B., Murrysville
“We absolutely love Ms. Imbriale. She has been such a pleasure to work with this year. She is very understanding and truly cares about each and every student. Despite the troubling times, she has been quick to adjust making sure students didn’t lose any part of the learning process. Kudos to Mrs. Imbriale!”