Norwin Teacher of the Year finalist had many mentors

A Norwin educator whose love of teaching began at an early age is a finalist for the state’s top award.

Rachel Kalberer, gifted coordinator-case manager in the Seminar of Elementary Advanced Learners program in the district’s four elementary schools, is one of 12 finalists for the state Department of Education’s Teacher of the Year, with the winner for 2024 being announced in Harrisburg in December.

“I think it (the nomination) validates what we all know about Norwin, that it’s a place full of wonderful educators. I’m humbled to have the opportunity to work, learn and grow from all of my fellow Norwin educators and I’m excited to represent them and this district,” Kalberer said.

The 12 finalists were selected from a pool of candidates by the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Teacher of the Year organization. The education department will be involved in selecting the winner, said Taj Magruder, an education department spokesman.

Jolene Barron, president of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Teacher of the Year and a teacher in the Tamaqua School District in Schuylkill County, could not be reached for comment.

Superintendent Jeff Taylor called Kalberer an extraordinary teacher.

“She motivates and inspires students to exceed their own expectations. Her status as a finalist validates what we already knew — Dr. Kalberer is superb as a teacher, mentor and leader in the field of education,” he said.

Kalberer, 34, recalls how her second grade teacher, Georgene Bodner at the former Pennsylvania Avenue Elementary School in Irwin, impacted her decision to become an educator.

“She inspired me to want to be a teacher. She was very dynamic,” Kalberer said.

Kalberer recalled writing in her fifth grade yearbook that she dreamed of becoming a teacher, a goal she achieved when the 2007 Norwin graduate was hired for Hahntown Elementary School in 2012.

Excellence in teaching runs in the family. Kalberer’s mother, Rebecca Gediminskas was a longtime nursing professor at Westmoreland County Community College near Youngwood before retiring in August 2022. She was recognized in 2019 with the Full-Time Faculty Teaching Excellence Award for her work in the classroom, instructional innovation, contributions to the community and leadership with the community college.

Mother and daughter also both hold doctorates — Gediminskas in nursing practice from Carlow University and Kalberer from Duquesne University, where her doctorate was in instructional technology and leadership.

The secret to becoming a successful teacher, Kalberer said, is to “believe that you can make a difference … that you’re the key to a student’s success,” regardless of other factors impacting them.

“A good teacher is going to be a learner,” said Kalberer, the mother of two young girls.

After serving as an elementary teacher at Norwin’s Sheridan Terrance Elementary School, she became the gifted program coordinator two years ago.

Working with fellow teacher Christy Yurko, Kalberer gets to develop the gifted students’ individualized instruction plans. She manages the caseload for the special instruction that the students receive in the SEAL program, which involves having them leave their regular classroom for 90 minutes a week.

“Being the gifted coordinator is the best job. I love to create and this job allows me to create news things every day, said Kalberer, who is in her second year in the position.

The gifted teachers work with the students on coding used to create computer programs. Kalberer is comfortable with the work, having completed her doctoral research in computational thinking and coding integration in the classroom.

“It’s all based on what the kids want. I really, really enjoy finding things to challenge the kids,” Kalberer said.

Her principal at Sheridan Terrace Elementary School, Heather Newell, saw Kalberer’s skills as a teacher firsthand, saying she was a leader who was “smart, self-directed and confident.”

“She continues to impress and inspire with her grit to persevere and dedication to continued learning of students, other teachers and herself. She is a contributor to the whole school community,” Newell wrote to the education department in her letter nominating Kalberer for the award.

“She is Norwin lifer. … I call it ‘Knight-fer’… and the community should feel proud of what we all and she have accomplished together,” said Newell, who now is director of curriculum and assessment.