Teacher, Friends of Rachel recognized in Plum

Nathan Pfeiffer, a teacher at Holiday Park Elementary School, was recognized by Plum Borough School Board as being one of 50 teachers selected for the Disney Imagination Campus Celebration.

“I’ve been lucky enough to have great support from teaching these amazing students at Plum,” Pfeiffer said at the board’s May 24 meeting. “Great support from their families, from the parents, from my principals, from my co-workers for the different things that I’ve tried to do in my classroom.”

Pfieffer and the other 49 teachers will participate in a parade and panels during their time in Disney. They were selected from more than 5,800 written applications describing how they incorporate creativity in the classroom.

“We couldn’t be prouder or think of a better representative to represent everything that Plum has to offer,” Superintendent Brendan Hyland said.

The board also recognized the members of the Friends of Rachel Clubs initiated this year at Plum Senior High School, Oblock Junior High School and Holiday Park Elementary School. The Friends of Rachel Club was established along with Rachel’s Challenge to help promote a positive environment at the schools.

The recognition came a month after students attended a school board meeting to ask for more help in dealing with mental health issues, with several citing concerns with the Rachel’s Challenge initiative.

Student representatives of the clubs spoke at the May 24 meeting. They cited multiple events that they organized, including putting up signs around the school to show appreciation of the teachers and help promote a positive message to the students.

High school representatives are Mackenzie Kmonk (officer), Ashlyn Vincent, Ryan Richards, Eliana Jorgensen (staff), Allison Vincent (officer), Kendall Dialoiso, Jaxon Ohmer, Jenielle Doty (staff), Sunelys Pagan Melendez, Gloria Casey, Sophia Pelino, Catherine Pribozie (staff), Phoenix Willis, Jasmine Hall, Chance Baskerville, Kimberly Brown (staff), Kyle Sanford, Kaitlyn O’Keefe, Donna Murphy (staff), Julianna Kuvlesky, Natalie DiMaria, Shari Klein (staff), Lori Black-Trusky (staff).

Oblock representatives are Naomi Casey, Joseph Verzinskie, Joe Miller (staff), Missy Markiewicz (staff), Kameron Dietrick, Trevor Walling, Theresa Barker, Matthew Paris (staff), Emma Griffin, Arabella Smythe-Leistico, Allison Campbell (staff), Cassidy Pytash (staff), Terrance Montue, Madilyn Stewart, Amanda Durick (staff), Nicole Kociela (staff).

Holiday Park representatives are Luke Dojonovic, James Graves, Jena Nese (staff), Kim Szafranski (staff), Chase Henderson, Marina Rebovich, Kelly Wickersty (staff), Cassidy Pytash (staff), Emmalyn Whanger, Raihan Malik, Jackie Hartley (staff), Frank Altieri, Brooke Mathieu.