Multiple new teachers joined staffs within the Penn-Trafford district; Alexis Martonik joined the high school staff this year as the new learning support teacher.

     Q. How long have you been in the P-T School District?                                                     A. I have been at Penn-Trafford now for, this will be my fourth year.

     Q. Where did you work before coming to Penn-Trafford High School?                       A. I was an SLA (Student Learning Assistant) at Penn Middle School and then McCullough, and now I’m here. I also was the Cheerleading Coach for the past two years.

     Q. What exactly does a learning support teaching job entail?                                        A. I have a roster of students that I support throughout the day, and then I’ll also co-teach with general education teachers, and support and accommodate the students that have special education needs in those classrooms.

     Q. You mentioned you’re the Head Cheerleading Coach. Do you have a history with cheerleading; did you perhaps do it in high school or college?                                                                                                                         A. I cheered in high school at Franklin Regional, just down the road, and I also did All-Star my whole life. Then I went to college – I went to the University of Louisville in Kentucky – where I cheered there and then I also was on the Teen USA cheerleading team.

     Q. What’s your favorite part about cheerleading?                                                                                                          A. When I was an athlete, my favorite part about it was competing and being in front of crowds, but now, my favorite part about coaching is seeing the girls succeed, not only on Friday nights but also competitions.

Abby Dreistadt, Editor in Chief