This Hempfield educator used to pretend to teach her stuffed animals. Now, she's a teacher of the year finalist.
Susan Barbe-Stas would get home from kindergarten and immediately line her stuffed animals up in a row, stand in front of them and lead lessons as their pretend teacher.
At that young age, she was inspired by a "very impactful teacher" who "made each and every one of us feel like we mattered just because we breathe," she said.
For the past 30 years, she has pursued that dream at Hempfield Area High School in Westmoreland County, where she's the family and consumer sciences teacher and runs the child development lab and preschool.
She's now a finalist for the 2027 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year award.
"I'm so grateful to be a part of this profession," Barbe-Stas told the Post-Gazette this week. "I'm honored to be able to shine a light on all the amazing things that educators do across the state of Pennsylvania."
She's one of 12 finalists for the award, through which the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the National State Teacher of the Year program identifies and honors exemplary teaching and classroom practices statewide. A winner will be announced in December.
Barbe-Stas teaches three levels of child development to high schoolers, focusing on a child's physical, intellectual, emotional and social development from pregnancy through preschool.
In higher levels, students help run a preschool open to the community and learn different teaching methods.
But Barbe-Stas has worked to make the course more than just another class at Hempfield. Pulling from her former kindergarten teacher, Barbe-Stas prioritizes building connections with her high school students and the preschoolers involved in the program.
Her goal: Ensure each student, regardless of ability, is capable in their own way.
"What makes the preschool lab special is … the preschooler doesn't say to their high school student, ‘Are you the popular kid?' ‘Are you the smartest kid?' ‘Do you live in the biggest housing plan?' " she said. "They just like the fact that their high school teacher is treating them as if they matter because they breathe, because I want my high school students to know you matter just because you breathe."
That connection is key for senior Shayley Whitehead, who said Barbe-Stas has had an immeasurable impact on her high school career.
Barbe-Stas is also the reason the 17-year-old plans to pursue a dual major of biological sciences and secondary education at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg.
"Every student that has her feels very comfortable with her, and that's kind of what I want," Shayley said. "I want my students, if they're having a bad day or something, I want them to not be worried about coming to my class. I want them to feel comfortable and for them to enjoy being in the class."
Those efforts have also allowed Barbe-Stas to build the course into a community affair.
She now sees former students bringing their children to the preschool. And she's helping to shape not only future teachers but students who want to pursue social work and law.
"It's so exciting to see all the amazing things they're going to do in our community," Barbe-Stas said.
She's now "grateful and honored" to be a state Teacher of the Year finalist.
Superintendent Mark Holtzman pointed to the work she has done in her 30 years to build Hempfield's preschool program as a reason for her nomination.
And given the program's success, district leaders preparing for a high school renovation project expected to break ground in June are planning a special access point for families to drop off their children at the preschool program.
"I'm happy for Sue," Holtzman said. "She's been here in Hempfield for quite a long time, has a really positive reputation and is a very positive person."
Seeing Hempfield representing the region for the award is "encouraging," he said.
"Westmoreland County is kind of a little bit off the beaten path, a little bit from Allegheny and the Pittsburgh area, so to be ... representing the region as well, I think is meaningful," Holtzman said.
Other finalists include:
• Jenna Anzelmo of the Fleetwood Area School District in Berks County;
• Heather Bain, Pennsbury in Bucks County
• Samhita Basuthakur, Spring-Ford Area in Montgomery County
• Aliza Becker, Penn Manor in Lancaster County
• Kerrie Becker, Cornwall-Lebanon in Lebanon County
• Heather Boyers, Upper Dublin in Montgomery County
• Danina Garcia, Philadelphia school district
• John Marc Murphy, Dover Area in York County
• Jonathan Rutledge, Westmont Hilltop in Cambria County
• Whitney Stiver, Central Susquehanna IU 16 in Montour County
• Michelle Wood, Crestwood in Luzerne County
Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Carrie Rowe said in a statement the finalists "represent the very best in teaching. They create classrooms where students feel seen, challenged, and supported, and where learning is connected to real opportunities for the future. Their commitment is shaping stronger futures for students and communities across Pennsylvania."
Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.
This story was originally published May 12, 2026 at 11:16 PM.