Our Staff
"The best teacher in the world is somebody who loves what he or she does and loves it in front of you." - Mr. Rogers
Ms. Gillian
Lead Senior Pre-K Teacher
Hello friends! I'm Ms. Gillian, lead teacher for our Senior Pre-K program. I graduated from Point Park University with dual bachelors degree in elementary and special education. I began working at a childcare when I was a just a senior in high school and found so much joy working with children. I have always had a love for early childhood education and helping others. At Aspire I get to share these passions everyday! A few fun facts about me: I have four cats, I love to read and cook, and my favorite thing to do is stay in on a cozy Sunday to cook a yummy meal, and snuggle up with my fur babies and good book!
Mr. Nick
Assistant Senior Pre-K Teahcer
Hello I'm Mr. Nick! I graduated from Kent State with my bachelors degree in Psychology. I moved to Pittsburgh in 2021 after finding out that there was a need for social service workers in the area. When I arrived I started as a behavior technician working with children with Autism before joining the team at Aspire. I enjoyed watching the children I worked with learn and grow and I hope to see the same in our students here. At home I spend my time with my cat , Zia, and I either tend to all of my plants or play games online with my friends from Ohio.​
Ms. Heidi
Lead Junior Pre-K Teacher
Hi! I am Ms. Heidi. I am the teacher in the Junior Pre-K room. I graduated with a degree in Elementary Education from Slippery Rock University and I also hold A Masters Degree in Education from Edinboro University. I am a certified Reading Specialist. Early Childhood is my preferred age group to teach! They possess such an infectious joy for learning!
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I live in Mt. Lebanon with my partner Matt, our children, and our dog Gimli. In my free time I enjoy gardening, art, reading, travel, and being outdoors. Matt and I love water activities including kayaking and recently went on an adventure to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to kayak along the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
Thank you for sharing your children with us! It is such a pleasure to watch them learn and grow!
Ms. April
Assistant Junior Pre-K Teacher
Hi! My name is April and I work in the Junior Pre-K room with Miss Heidi. I graduted from Slippery Rock University with a Bachelor's in social work. I have worked with children since 2015 and am recently new to the school setting. For the last 4 years, I have been working as a TSS going into homes and working one on one with kids who have special needs. I love working at Aspire preschool because it is an inclusive environment where I get the chance to work with all types of kiddos! I recently got married and we have our fur baby, Leo, who is half lab, half Rottweiler who takes up most of our time! In my spare time you can find me walking Leo or reading a good book outside. Early education is so important and I can't wait to meet you and help your child learn!
Ms. Grace
Hi! My name is Ms. Grace and I am the lead teacher for our Preschool program. I graduated from La Roche University with a dual Bachelor's degree in Pre-K/4 General Education and Pre-K/12 Special Education. I come from a family of teachers and always knew I wanted to work with kids. I love to work with young children so that I can see the progress they make over time! Working at Aspire gives me the opportunity to apply my dedication to fulfilling children's educational needs and development. In my free time I enjoy traveling, hiking, spending time with family, and watching the Pittsburgh Penguins!
Ms. Jess
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Hello! I'm Ms. Jess. I'm the assistant teacher in our preschool classroom. I have a background in education and strong ties to the special needs community. I have a son with Autism, and a passion to help all students grow and learn at their own pace and to their fullest potential! I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of your child's educational journey!