For decades, I have had the joy of teaching, encouraging, and walking alongside learners of all ages, and one thing has remained true through every season of my work:
I love helping people grow in confidence, connection, and joy!
I'm so glad you're here!
Hi, I'm Alisa.
Childhood Roots
Long before PGH English Explorer was born, there was a little
girl who loved to explore.
As a child, I spent countless hours outdoors - playing
sports with my brother, wandering through the woods, and
exploring trails that led to creeks and hidden treasures.
Sometimes I looked for salamanders near the water, fascinated
by the wonder of discovering small living things tucked quietly
into nature.
At home, faith, music, art, and animals were part of everyday life.
My parents cultivated my simple faith in God with daily prayer,
inspirational stories, and weekly church attendance. Through
the course of life's lessons, my faith remained unwavering.
At age seven, I began taking piano lessons and continued
through my teenage years. Music brought me joy, peace, and a
sense of accomplishment. I loved sharing that joy with others,
especially when family members would relax with a cup of tea
and listen as I played.
Art was another daily joy. Drawing, coloring, and creating gave
me a beautiful way to express what I saw and felt.
And there were always animals to love, beginning with the
first of three beloved poodles who would become treasured
companions over forty years.
Looking back, I can see the roots of who I am today.
Faith.
Wonder.
Joy.
Peace.
Curiosity.
Connection.
Exploration.
Those early roots grew into a lifelong calling.
The World Got Bigger
At nineteen years old, my love of exploration expanded beyond
woods and creeks into something much bigger.
As a college student, my world opened dramatically through
Semester at Sea, an unforgettable journey with 400 students
attending college classes aboard the S.S. Universe on a voyage
around the world.
It took two weeks to cross the Pacific Ocean before reaching
Japan, the first of thirteen countries we would explore together.
What made this education especially meaningful was that it
was not simply travel, it was learning through experiences:
Classroom lessons came alive through real-world explorations,
interacting with the people, cultures, and environments of each
place.
The world became living curriculum, and we were invited into homes, shared meals, and experienced cultures not merely as
visitors, but students engaged in looking with wonder!
Looking back, I can see that this experience deepened my
appreciation for cultures, communication, and the beautiful
diversity of our world. And it shaped not only how I saw the
world, but also how I would one day teach.
I discovered something that has guided me ever since:
Learning becomes most powerful when it comes alive through
experience.
Teaching & Cross-Cultural Bridge-Building
That journey led me into the world of teaching.
After completing my student teaching at Frick International
Studies Academy in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, I
was the first English as a Second Language (ESL) Teacher to be
hired by Westmoreland County to work with English Language
Learners in Yough, Hempfield, and Norwin School Districts.
As summer was approaching, I found myself pondering a
question:
What if children could spend their summer learning English the
way I had experienced learning during Semester at Sea, not
only in a classroom, but through exploration, discovery,
meaningful experiences, and real-life connections?
That question became a vision. And I wrote a grant proposal to
the Pennsylvania Department of Education for an ESL Summer
Day Camp built around weekly themes, classroom discoveries,
creative activities, guest educators, outdoor experiences, and
field trips.
The proposal was funded, and before long children were
exploring English exactly as I had imagined: enjoying English
come alive through real-life adventures!
As the years rolled on, I continued to welcome the nations that
come to Pittsburgh. With English as the bridge, I invited
students to learn while baking cookies, picking strawberries,
riding horses, walking woodland trails, dancing in the rain,
meeting people from around the world, asking questions,
laughing together, and sharing the wonder of exploration and
discoveries.
I came to see the world is not so big when love starts to make it
feel like we are one human family.
And voices from around the world shared heart reflections that
are treasures to me:
Building Strong Friendships In My Little World
"I've had the experience of a lifetime, and found in you a new
friend!"
-Simon, Brazil
"I came to your home when you had Girl Scouts activity, and
made cookies with you and kids. I could feel very happy!"
-Yoon Ki, South Korea
"You are the reason my sons have enjoyed studying English
these ten years!"
-Yuriko, Japan
"I won't forget these happy times I had with you and your pup,
Pepita."
-Amy, Taiwan
"Your friendliness helped open my vision."
-Shih-Hsien Huang, Taiwan
"Alisa is truly a wonderful person. She has become my daughter's favorite teacher, thanks to her kindness and
empathy."
-Nathiya, India
These voices, like seeds, that grew Exploration English are still
growing today with the same truth as from the beginning:
English grows best when people are exploring, discovering, laughing wondering, and building friendships together.
PGH English Explorer
Today, PGH English Explorer continues the same journey.
Pittsburgh is known as the City of Bridges; English is the world's
bridge language.
I believe we who call Pittsburgh home can become bridge-
builders to welcome neighbors from around the world and help
transform what feels unfamiliar into friendship, belonging, and
meaningful connection.
Whether through English support, creative learning
experiences, nature-exploration, cross-cultural friendships,
music, art, or community gatherings, my hope is simple:
To help people grow in confidence, connection, and wonder,
one life at a time.
I'm so glad our paths have crossed.