Luminari warmly welcomes Heather Schirra to our team! Heather, an experienced Special Education Teacher, brings years of experience from diverse special education settings. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Special and Elementary Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Assessment from Clarion University.
Beyond her dedication to education, Heather’s volunteer work with the Special Olympics and coaching the Westmoreland County Special Olympics alpine ski team reflects her commitment to positive impact. She eagerly anticipates enriching the growth of Luminari campers. Heather resides in Westmoreland County with her two energetic daughters, and together they explore the outdoors through hiking, biking, swimming, and skiing. Her zest for new experiences makes her a valuable addition to our team!
Get to know more about Heather, Luminari’s new camp administrator:
Tell us about your journey to becoming a Camp Administrator for Luminari. What drew you to this work/role?
I’ve always enjoyed working with and educating our youth. I’ve been a special education teacher for the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit for the past 16 years. This past summer I met Patrice Lee, Luminari Operations Administrator, and began working at her retail store. I learned so much about the wonderful opportunities Luminari provides children of Pittsburgh from her and Derek Fritzel, Camp Delicious! Director and chef. Then to my surprise Patrice asked me if I’d like to take on the role of Camp Administrator. I was honored to be considered and of course said “Yes!”
- What specific skills or experiences do you bring to the role of Camp Administrator that will contribute to the success of our teen summer camps?
My years as a teacher, being a mom, and most recently a business entrepreneur has helped me hone my organizational and communication skills. To ensure the success of daily camp operations, along with clear and efficient communication with parents, campers, and staff, these two strengths will serve me well in this role.
- Describe a work project or accomplishment that you are particularly proud of. What did you learn from it?
Aside from my students’ growth and achievements, I’m very proud of the butter business, Beurre Chaude, that chef Derek Fritzel and I have recently started! I have never started a business before, but it has been a joy to learn all the aspects of a business. Despite the extra hours, it’s been very rewarding creating and sharing our products with our customers and seeing the joy it brings to others!
- What excites you most about joining Luminari? How do you envision contributing to our mission?
To be honest, I’m very excited to experience these opportunities that our campers will soon be experiencing! It is a passion of mine to give our youth knowledge and experiences that will help them navigate their way to a successful and rewarding adulthood. I’m honored to be a part of Luminari and to assist with providing these campers with life-changing opportunities!
