Enriching Education - Meet 10 Amazing Teachers with Remake Learning Days

 

As one of the best-connected and most collaborative learning ecosystems in the US, the greater Pittsburgh area is full of stories about incredible educators who go the extra mile to make education more fun, more memorable, and more accessible for students of all abilities.

 

Some inspiring examples of Pittsburgh-area teachers — whose hands-on learning innovations are also part of May’s 10th annual Remake Learning Days family learning festival — include: 

• Building confidence and creativity in “Brick Clubs”: Beaver Area assistant superintendent Emily Sanders started a LEGO learning trend that schools across the US are clamoring to adopt!
• Creating a new flight simulator: In a district where 70 percent of students are from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, South Allegheny teacher Tim Rishel’s passion for flying led to the creation of an aviation program that helps students reach for the stars! 
• Career training in cybersecurity: With over 7 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs nationwide, South Allegheny teacher Jesse MacPherson and superintendent David McDonald launched a Cybersecurity Academy to help students and their families start cybersecurity careers. 
• Scoring a feature film despite a school fire: Even a facility-damaging four-alarm blaze at Elizabeth Forward High School can’t stop teacher Dr. Angie Berna Milliren and her students from scoring an upcoming animated feature created entirely by Pittsburgh-area students! 
• Teaching GRIT through second chances: Hampton High School math teacher Amy Leya teaches kids how to develop resilience and resourcefulness by giving them a chance to learn from their mistakes. 
• Creating internships to help seniors make career choices: Jefferson-Morgan high school teacher Jodi Fulks also serves as the school’s internship coordinator, helping students explore career paths from marketing to barbershops! 
• Guiding students to create a better future: Carlynton teacher Don Alexander works closely with the district’s Girls Supporting Girls group and the Remaking Civics initiative to help students find their voice, their path, and their vision of a brighter tomorrow.
• Making history feel modern with a “Cabinet of Curiosities”: Manheim Township teacher and former museum curator Tammy Sweeney is making her history lessons more hands-on by turning her classroom into an interactive museum! 
• Enabling tomorrow’s citizens to use their voices for change: Shaler history teacher Nick Haberman founded the LIGHT Education Initiative to educate and empower today’s students to become tomorrow’s motivated humanitarians. See how LIGHT works. 
• Gamifying innovative thinking: Seneca Valley School District 4^th grade teacher Paolo Tolomeo uses technology and gamification to get students thinking outside the box, and shares highlight examples on his X feed. 

About Remake Learning Days

Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2025, Remake Learning Days (RLD) is a global learning festival that brings families, kids, community cultural centers, and educators together to share the benefits of collaborative, hands-on learning. Founded in 2016 by Remake Learning, this celebration highlights transformative experiences and opportunities for youth to develop their sense of creativity, perseverance, curiosity, and fun alongside others. A variety of organizations, such as schools, museums, libraries, after school organizations, early childcare centers, universities, media centers, tech startups, and more, open their doors and host events for families to learn together. Let’s explore, wonder and learn together.  Remake Learning Days is grateful to The Grable Foundation for its global support, The Pennsylvania Department of Education and Allegheny Intermediate Unit for its support across the Commonwealth and to SWPA sponsors: EQT Foundation, Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, The Richard King Mellon Foundation, The Buhl Foundation, PNC Foundation, Carnegie Mellon University, and University of Pittsburgh. In addition, we would like to acknowledge the contributions from partners Remake Learning, Common Sense Media, Learning Heroes, Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh and PA PBS. 

About Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh

The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh provides innovative and inclusive museum experiences that inspire kindness, creativity, curiosity and joy for all learners. They forge connections with artists, community partners and neighbors to work on behalf of children, youth and families. The Museum is located on Pittsburgh’s historic North Side and serves as the fiscal sponsor for Remake Learning Days globally. Learn more at www.pittsburghkids.org.