First responders speak to students at Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship

Penn Hills patrolman Lindsey Bigger laughed as students asked her if it was true that police officers ride around with donuts in their car. Bigger enjoyed the opportunity to educate students on what police officers do.

“I love talking to the kids. This shows them we are people too, and they can come to talk to us,” she said.

Students at Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship were able to interact with first responders from their community on May 5, an event that was part of Teacher Appreciation Week (May 2-6). Representatives from the Penn Hills Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, EMTs, firemen, and the Allegheny County Office of Violence Prevention came to speak.

Charter School CEO Wayne Jones said teachers’ response to covid-19 in the learning environment served as a reminder that they too are first responders. To show appreciation for their service, teachers were given a break for the day for students to learn about first responders in their community, Jones said.

“This event allowed us to expose our students to the various careers of first responders, and to improve the students relationship with school and community law enforcement,” he said.

PHCSE principal and chief academic officer Tamara Allen-Thomas said this was to give students a head start on exploring career options.

Penn Hills Police Chief Ronald Comospoke to 98 seventh and eighth graders in the gymnasium about his career and answered students’ questions. Students were able to go outside to check out the inside of a Penn Hills police car.

Pittsburgh Fire Bureau Lt. Ron Johnson said the event was a great way to get the students thinking about their career options early. He said the city has been working to recruit more minorities into the firefighting field.

“We want to show them there are jobs out there outside of entertainment,” he said.

Ron Wolfe, Pittsburgh Fire Bureau engine station #4, said the fire department visits lots of schools to discuss fire safety and fighters’ duties. He said the event was their first time visiting a school in-person since covid started.

“I love doing it. It’s good for young Black kids to see there are Black people in jobs they don’t normally see us in,” Wolfe said.

Students were engaged, asking specific questions about how many calls they receive or what are the most common issues they are called for.

Nico Porgorzelski, a fourth grader, said he liked the event. He said he learned the difference between a fire truck and a fire engine.

“It kind of inspired me,” he said.

Alaya Franklin, another fourth grader, said the speakers were open to answering many of their questions.

“It was great,” she said.