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Bethel Park school librarian ‘overwhelmed’ by surprise Leaders in the Classroom award

By Luke Campbell 2 min read
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When Abraham Lincoln Elementary School librarian Denice Pazuchanics arrived to work, it seemed like a typical fall Friday morning.

Staff members and students dressed primarily in Pittsburgh Steelers gear, excited for the weekend, piled into the school gymnasium to talk about bus safety, At least, that’s what Pazuchanics thought was all that would be addressed.

At the end of the safety assembly, third-year principal Jay Johnson intervened with representatives from Chevron Corp. to present the longtime librarian with a Leaders in the Classroom award.

Pazuchanics was presented with a check for $1,500, which will be put toward classroom materials, and was told that she will be honored at the Jan. 1 Steelers game, as the team partnered with Chevron to recognize local teachers work in the classroom.

“I did not expect this at all,” she said. “It’s super important, because we’ve been doing things at Lincoln, and it’s nice to be recognized. I’m not alone, though. Everybody works together here. We have fabulous kids. We have fabulous parents. It really is a big team effort.”

Johnson nominated his co-worker because of the various activities she organizes through the school, including last year’s day-long STEAM Expo, which brought in more than 50 area professionals and partners, and she has developed partnerships with WQED and Bethel Park Public Library.

“She isn’t the traditional school librarian,” said Johnson. “She really takes on a different role here for us, especially by embracing a lot of the elements in STEAM-based education into our daily practice. She gives so much of her time.”

Pazuchanics loves the job that she has had for 17 years, already knowing how she plans to use the money.

“We have a lot of initiatives going on here,” she said. “I definitely want to use that money for the garden. Both the STEAM programs and after-school activities will put it to go use.

“Being the librarian, I get to see and keep everybody for five years. I see them grow. I really do love what I do. I do feel like they are family.”

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