OUR TEAM
Deshanna Wisniewski, Hampton Township School District
Deshanna was born and raised in Bergen County, New Jersey. Although attended a diverse private school, Deshanna never had a teacher of color. Even among peers of color, Deshanna never felt like her Black culture was seen or heard.
In 2011, Deshanna graduated from Malone University with a dual degree in Special Education and Early Childhood. After teaching in Canton South for four years, Deshanna realized how rare it was for adults and students to see teachers of color in that area. When moving to Pittsburgh in 2016, Deshanna’s work experiences at Falk Laboratory drove her passion for social justice. While attending the People of Color Conference, Deshanna met with many teachers of color in the Independent School world.
In 2018, Deshanna began teaching 2nd grade at Wyland Elementary School in Hampton School District. She also fell in love with using children’s literature to discuss social injustices and show students the world outside of Hampton.
Deshanna’s passion allows her to help other teachers of color to connect and build relationships. She knows how important it is for students to see themselves and for teachers to have the same.
Ahmed Affaneh, Avonworth School District
Ahmed's journey began in Kuwait in 1987 before his family was displaced by the Gulf War, eventually settling in the United States. Facing language barriers and cultural differences in public schooling, he found support from teachers but often navigated challenges alone as the only Middle Eastern individual in many spaces. As a teacher of color, Ahmed aims to create inclusive classrooms where students appreciate diversity. Recognizing the lack of diversity among educators, he values the role of Teaching is my Favorite (TIMFC) in energizing his work. Ahmed looks forward to contributing to TIMFC's efforts to retain and recruit educators of color.
Pharlan Ives, Assistant Principal, South Fayette Township School District
Mrs. Pharlan Ives serves as the Assistant Principal at South Fayette Elementary School in South Western, PA. With 18 years of experience in education, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Child Development from Florida State University, a Master of Science in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from Duquesne University, and a K-12 Principal Certification from the University of Pittsburgh.
Raised in South Florida within a large Haitian family, Mrs. Ives immigrated to the United States as a child. Despite a culturally diverse environment, she often felt marginalized due to her immigrant background. Throughout her career in Florida and Georgia, she taught diverse classes culturally and linguistically. However, upon moving to Pittsburgh with her husband, she felt increasingly isolated due to the lack of diversity within the educational workforce in the region.
Attending a conference for educators of color during the pandemic, Mrs. Ives discovered many shared her experiences. Inspired, she seized the opportunity to establish an organization supporting educators of color and fostering a community for herself and others.
Dr. Payal Mital, South Fayette Township School District
Originally from India, Payal relocated to the United States for higher education, where she earned a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and has since dedicated eight years to education. Growing up in India, she observed prevalent colorism, sexism, and casteism in society, shaping her perspective on social issues.
During her graduate studies, Payal encountered explicit differential treatment of diverse students by some faculty members. As a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Pittsburgh, she mentored a diverse group of students, endeavoring to foster inclusivity by bridging cultural gaps and explaining nuanced phrases.
As an immigrant, Payal often felt like an outsider in workplaces lacking diversity reflecting her identity. In the South Fayette School district, where 25% of students are South Asian, only 2% of teachers are of color, leading to student struggles with stereotypes and misunderstandings. These experiences fuel Payal's passion for cultivating a supportive community where authenticity thrives, providing spaces where her students can feel equally empowered.
Lauren Rodriguez, Hampton Township School District
4th Grade Elementary School Teacher (Hampton Township School District). Lauren was born and raised in South Florida. As Lauren went through public school, both her classmates and teachers came from culturally diverse backgrounds. Looking back, she realizes how lucky she was to have such a diverse educational experience. Lauren had multiple teachers to look up to and identify with. She vividly remembers her first-grade teacher telling her that her grandparents’ Cuban Restaurant made the best black beans and rice she ever had. It was a wonderful moment of connection and validation. While teaching in Pittsburgh, Lauren has observed the lack of diversity in both classroom and student teachers. She feels those moments of connection and validation are not there for students with culturally diverse backgrounds. Teaching Is My Favorite Color has been a way for Lauren to connect with other educators and build a community to support each other and the next generation of teachers and their students.
Robert E. A. Powell, Propel Northside School
Robert began his career in education at Urban Pathways Charter Schools, located indowntown Pittsburgh, after graduating from Kent State University with a degree in special education in2005. Robert has an overall goal in education to impact change—in both student self-efficacy and schoolculture. Among his teaching accomplishments were: the development of the Math and Science curriculumfor 6th-8th graders; technology integration; and promotion to middle school lead teacher. He was alsorecognized as a Keystone Technology Educator and Educator of the Year. Mr. Powell then moved to theelementary school in an administrative role as the Supervisor of Student Services, where he created aschool-wide student motivation program. While he improved school performance, his family relationship-building was another key accomplishment.In 2015, after completing a master’s degree program at the former California University of Pennsylvania, hejoined Propel schools as the Assistant Principal at Northside. There he demonstrated his ability todecrease discipline, increase student achievement and positively impact the school environment. In 2018,Powell transitioned into a Principal at Homestead. In this time, he worked towards his mission of makingthis first Propel location one of the best schools in Allegheny County. He is cognizant that all constituentscontribute to a strong, positive school culture—students, staff, leaders and parents. In succeeding a long-time principal at Homestead, he has built strong and mutually respectful relationships with K-8 students,parents, staff, peers, community, corporate and other external partners. At the same time, he hasimplemented new programming, enhanced academics and provided for meaningful, 21st Centuryopportunities for his students. In 2023, Powell returned to the Northside, utilizing the motto, “ExcellenceAlways” to build Propel-Northside as a premier education destination.
Shannon Finley-Cressler
Shannon is an accomplished educator and leader, boasts over ten years of expertise in foreign language education. Currently based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Shannon is a product of Daniel Boone Area High School's class of 2007. Her academic journey led her to the University of Pittsburgh, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Spanish and Africana Studies in 2011, followed by a Master's degree in Secondary Foreign Language Education from the School of Education in 2012.Shannon's passion for teaching and leadership was ignited during her senior year of high school through her involvement with Junior Achievement, a global non-profit youth organization. Since then, she has dedicated herself to nurturing this passion, serving as a PreK-12 Spanish teacher in various Pittsburgh-area school districts, including Pittsburgh Public School District, Franklin Regional School District, and Woodland Hills School District. Her commitment to delivering high-quality education and support to her students shines through in her work.Beyond the classroom, Shannon actively engages in her community and a range of extracurricular pursuits. She sits on the board of Earthen Vessels Outreach, performs with The Shona Sharif African Dance and Drum Ensemble, and contributes to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Furthermore, she volunteers for the Pitt African American Alumni Council and mentors students through Panthers Forward.Currently pursuing an Educational Doctorate (EdD) from Point Park University and an Education Specialist (EdS) degree from Grand Canyon University, specializing in administrative leadership, Shannon is dedicated to honing her pedagogical practices to better support student learning in second language acquisition courses. Her diverse experiences, both within and outside the classroom, underscore her dedication to education, leadership, and community involvement. Shannon Finley-Cressler is a dynamic professional whose unwavering commitment continues to positively impact the lives of her students and community members alike.
