• womens history month

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    Originally from Calabrian, Italy, Francesa R. Costa has been a City of Pittsburgh crossing guard for 24 years. For the past decade, you can find her managing traffic and safe crossing at the corner of Stanton and Meadow Avenues. A Highland Park resident herself, Ms. Rosa, as she is affectionately called by families, says it’s important to keep the children safe.

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    The school’s busy intersection requires Ms. Rosa to escort PPS families and other citizens across busy intersections and directs traffic as necessary to prevent accidents.

    Pittsburgh Dilworth principal, Qualisha Zyhier, praises Ms. Rosa as a warm and welcoming presence at Dilworth

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    “She puts safety first and cares for every student as if they were her own child. No matter the weather conditions, families can always count on Ms. Rosa's presence. She is a blessing to Dilworth and is loved and appreciated by the entire Highland Park community.”

  • Ms. Rosa is a prime example of the history makers Pittsburgh Public Schools has in its own backyard. This Women’s History Month we salute Ms. Rosa and all of the women who serve our students.

  • “Families are still struggling during the pandemic."

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    kris

  • Those are the words of Kristina Terrell, a Pittsburgh Linden parent who spends most of her day taking care of others. The 2003 Pittsburgh Allderdice graduate revamped the way Pittsburgh Linden families are served. As Vice President of the school’s Parent-Teacher Association, she manages the Cub Closet and Linden Lenders.

    Cub Closet is a backpack initiative and open food pantry to address food insecurities. Families can reach out to the school and schedule a pickup or have food sent home directly with their child.

    Linden Lenders is a clothing swap program that provides clothes, shoes, under garments and hygiene products to students in need. From bathroom accidents to clothes that no longer fit, Ms. Terrell realizes that there are various reasons why students need access to clothes in and out of the classroom.

    No questions asked, families can remain anonymous.

    Ms. Terrell’s big heart comes from her own experience with finding family resources. “As a parent, I didn’t have access to those needs when I was struggling. I don’t want families to feel embarrassed about using these resources to sustain their child’s academic and behavior success. That is important to me. Food, clothes, and shoes should not be a factor.”

    Ms. Terrell knows that providing students with basic necessities like food, clothes, and shoes changes their mood, keeps them focused in school, and lessens the number of behavior issues.

    If you would like to donate to the Cub Closet or Linden Lenders, please contact the school directly.

    Since 2015, Ms. Terrell serves on the District’s Parent Advisory Council and is the proud parent of two Pittsburgh Linden students. Kristina Terrell is a prime example of the history makers Pittsburgh Public Schools has in its own backyard. This Women’s History Month we salute Ms. Terrell and all of the women who serve our students.