Canon-McMillan Spotlight: Local Educators Doing Awesome Things

We at Canon-McMillan Patch like to honor the people who make our communities a better place to live, work and play.

The following Canon-McMillan School District employees were also lauded at Monday's board meeting:

This month, the Canon-McMillan Spotlight is on these folks:

• Amy Barbarino, Canonsburg Middle School library media specialist, has received a $499 McDonald’s MAC Grant. The money will be used to purchase an iPad for the library. The students will create book trailers using iMovie and create QR codes for library books for which the trailers were made.

• Bob Chuey, special education coordinator, has been nominated and selected as this year’s recipient of the Transitional Employment Consultants’ Don Angelone Rehabilitation Professional Award. The award recognizes individuals involved in the rehabilitation profession and community in Fayette, Greene, and Washington counties. The award honors individuals who exhibit high levels of professionalism and are recognized among other rehabilitation professionals, community agencies and employers. These individuals are highly visible in the employment community and universally recognized as passionate advocates for people with disabilities.

• Dr. Greg Taranto, middle school principal, has been selected as the recipient of the 2012 Pennsylvania Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Outstanding Research and Publication Award. This award recognizes a PASCD member who has conducted research and published within the past two years and who exemplifies excellence in their work.

• Grace Lani was accepted to the Pennsylvania Education Policy Fellowship Program, sponsored by The Education Policy and Leadership Center and the Institute for Educational Leadership. This nationally recognized program was established more than 45 years ago and continues to support diverse organizations at the local, state and national levels. This professional development program is supported by a national and state network of professionals from education, government, military, human services, business and community organizations. Fellows will meet throughout the year on a monthly basis, having regional and national leadership meetings. Fellows will develop a broadened understanding of the policy process and the various aspects of education policy, enhancing decision making and leadership skills.