Event Celebrates Pittsburgh's Innovations In Education

Photo credit Jessica Shanahan

By Andrew Limberg, NewsRadio 1020 KDKA

PITTSBURGH (Newsradio 1020 KDKA) - Pittsburgh’s real heroes were honored Monday night at the O’Reilly Theater.

No, it’s wasn't sports stars or celebrities, it was teachers.

HundrED, a Finland-based organization that works to “help all young people flourish by discovering inspiring innovations in K12 education,” has teamed up with the Grable Foundation and Remake Learning with recognize the 12 “Inspiring innovations” made in the Pittsburgh region that will be shared with the world.

The free "CelebratED" celebration honored teachers, administrators and others who help children in school, after school and with early childhood education.

Over 80 schools, libraries, community centers and museums submitted innovations they have made in education and hundrED picked the 12 “most inspiring innovation in the Pittsburgh region to share with the world.”

They included:

Hillman Academy, where high school kids work alongside medical researchers
Global Minds Initiative’s efforts to foster intercultural friendships
Fabricating Change in Mental Wellness’s project-based learning
JAM after-school making program at Avonworth School District
Youth Express at SLB Radio
Summer Dreamers Academy of Pittsburgh Public Schools
Simple Interactions’ community-based approach to support those who serve children
Transformed at Allegheny Intermediate Unit’s Center for Creativity/ Tyler Samstag – Director of Instructional Innovation
Manchester Craftmen’s Guild’s use of STEAM activities to mentor urban youth
MAKESHOP at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh
The Labs @ CLP Summer Skills Intensives
The Finch Robot educational technology tool

The innovations by the organizations must be easily duplicated so they can be shared.

Photo credit Jessica Shanahan