Westmoreland, Allegheny teachers earn Global Educators designation

Several area teachers have been recognized by the Pennsylvania State Modern Language Association as Global Educators.

The recognition is given to advisers who support the PSMLA Global Scholars program in their schools to lead Global Scholars graduates in two consecutive years with the PSMLA Global Educator Certificate. This year, 17 world language educators in Pennsylvania received the designation. Of those, four work in Westmoreland County school districts, and six are staffers in Allegheny County districts.

In Westmoreland, they are Danielle Llerena at Norwin High School, Erica Shafran at Hempfield Area High School, Kerrie Tonet-Berlin at Franklin Regional High School and Katie Zalewski at Greater Latrobe High School.

Those in Allegheny are Laura Fleischer Proano at Highlands High School, Kelly Barone at Fox Chapel Area High School, Karen Belcastro at Chartiers Valley High School, Stacy Hart and Melissa Reagle at Avonworth High School and Beth Marsiglio at Shaler Area High School.

The goal of the PSMLA Global Scholars program is to give students the opportunity to select interdisciplinary studies and activities, develop global awareness and prepare themselves for personal and professional success in a global society, according to the program’s website.

“It helps us develop students with 21st century skills, so cultivating interculturality, creating global competence, helping students realize that they’re going to be interacting with students with diverse cultural backgrounds and also different languages, different skills,” Shafran of Hempfield said of the program during a school board meeting Monday.

A presentation by PSMLA states the program is necessary because in Pennsylvania there are almost 6,550 foreign-owned companies from 66 countries.

Students participating in the program must complete four components, including four levels of the same world language in high school, four additional credits of courses with a global nature, eight literature reviews, 20 hours of community service with a global nature and involvement in four extracurricular activities with a global focus.

“Whether or not they go on to college or into the workforce, we thought it was important to give them an opportunity to sort of hone those skills,” Shafran said.

Districts interested in participating in the program must submit an application to the Pennsylvania State Modern Language Association. The program does not require any new courses but adapts the current school curriculum and does not require additional costs to the district.

Students who participate in the program are eligible for a certificate and graduation cords.

A full list of staffers in Pennsylvania who earned the designation can be found at psmla.net.