Teaching Leaves a Lasting Impact on Both Educators and Students
- Kathleen Ganster
- 20 hours ago
- 5 min read
May is Teacher Appreciation Month, and what better way to say “thank you” than to recognize a few outstanding lifelong educators.
“As cliché as it sounds, I think that teaching is one of those careers that you don’t choose—it chooses you. It certainly did for me,” Zack Hull, North Allegheny School District, said.
Hull was inspired to become a teacher because of his professors. “I had a few great teachers in school, but I was even more inspired by some great professors I had while I was an undergrad at La Roche (University),” he explained. Hull had originally gone to La Roche to play baseball, but after an injury, he studied abroad in Spain. “I came back to La Roche with a renewed energy and a changed heart—I changed my major upon returning to become an English teacher. I knew it was in my blood.”
The 20-year teaching veteran started teaching “exactly one day after my student teaching ended,” he said. “I got a call from the principal at the high school, telling me that one of their teachers had to take emergency FMLA and that they needed an English teacher to come for the rest of the school year, and they wanted me to come! I told them that I was still a college student and hadn’t yet graduated, but they assured me it wasn’t a problem and that I would be emergency certified.” Hull taught eighth grade for 10 years and sophomores for 10 years. “And I will be teaching AP seminar probably for the next decade,” he said. “The students and their dedication make NA a special place to work.”
Amanda Vigliotti, a nine-year biology teacher at Pine-Richland School District, enjoys working with students and helping them grow as individuals. “Throughout my own educational experience, I had numerous teachers that acted as mentors to me. They taught me life lessons that I continue to value today,” she said.
“At the end of every year, I always have students that return to my classroom to say bye as they head off. Seeing the growth of each student as they come into their own is one of the most rewarding experiences. There are few careers that allow you to have the opportunity to have this experience. I greatly enjoy hearing their plans for the next chapter of their lives. It’s a full-circle moment and reminds me why teaching is so meaningful,” she said.
Vigliotti was recently selected as the Pittsburgh Penguins and Highmark Most Valuable Educator Award recipient in recognition of her teaching efforts. “I was completely surprised—I had no idea what was happening. Honestly, the student who wrote the essay is the one who truly deserves recognition. Knowing that she felt strongly enough to take the time to nominate me and write such a kindhearted letter is incredibly selfless of her and is what made the experience so meaningful,” she said. “I feel deeply honored, and I will always be grateful for the entire experience.”
Michele Riley has been teaching for 25 years. “I think what inspired me to become a teacher was wanting to spend time with children and teach them about everything I knew and more, to make a difference in their lives,” she said. “Growing up with two parents as former teachers gave me the foundation to strive for success.” Riley has worked in early childhood education, elementary education and special education.
It’s a new experience every day, she said. “I continue to teach to motivate my students and to continue to learn myself. When a student is struggling, I continue to change my presentation of the material to meet them where they are. The minute that lightbulb ‘clicks’ and they get the concept is comparable to a standing ovation.”
Like every good teacher, Riley has grown as well. “Teaching has taught me that anything is possible. It has taught me compassion, patience and the importance of teaching our children to be the most excellent version of themselves for their benefit, as well as the community,” she said. “Hard work and perseverance matter. Emotional intelligence and critical thinking are imperative to success. Success looks different for everyone but is imperative to our society.”
Kim Refosco is an “accidental” teacher. “I studied Spanish and political science at Pitt. Like many young graduates, I wasn’t exactly sure what my plans were. At that time (2002), I was recruited by several schools in Virginia that were having a teacher shortage. I—thinking temporarily—started teaching high school Spanish. Now I’ve ‘accidentally’ been teaching for 24 years, and I love it,” she said.
Over her years of teaching, Refosco has experienced a variety of settings. “I have been lucky enough to experience varying types of school choice: public inner city, public suburban, charter, Catholic and currently a public cyber charter school,” she said.
While Refosco jokes that she stays in teaching for the summer vacations, she also explained why she has spent decades in a career that she stumbled upon. “I teach because I love the engagement with students. As a lifelong learner myself, I get really nerdy about making the connections to verb conjugations and seeing the students start to get it and form their own sentences,” she said.
The words “lifelong educator” are fitting for Mary Lou Ellena-Wygonik. While her original intention had been to go to law school after a few years of teaching, once she entered the classroom, she never left. “I began my career in education, loved it, and remained for the duration,” she said.
Ellena-Wygonik taught with the Hampton Township School District for more than 30 years in several roles—teaching English, establishing the gifted program and working as the enrichment facilitator. As if that wasn’t enough dedication to teaching, Ellena-Wygonik has also taught English courses at La Roche University for several decades, a role that she still holds. “I think I teach because I love teaching! La Roche is an international campus; that mix of students has been invaluable in peer review for research writing and topics for oral communication,” the veteran educator explained.
Karen DiMaio has been teaching at Sewickley Academy for 35 years. “I think what inspired me to start teaching is just the idea of helping kids. I remember having teachers who were very special to me and wanted to be that kind of person to other kids,” she said. DiMaio has taught both kindergarten and second grade.
Like Riley, DiMaio feels that she is the winner when it comes to teaching. “I’ve learned a tremendous amount through teaching, but I think it’s the children who have taught me the most. I’ve learned that the most important thing is not math, reading or social studies. The key is the relationships you develop with the children and the way you guide them in learning,” she said.
She continued, “I think the greatest reward from this job is really seeing the kids laugh, having a really good day with them or seeing them grasp an idea. That makes you feel great and like you’re doing something very important in the world.”
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