Dr. Janet Garchinsky started her career in education after graduating from Millersville University. Initially, her focus was on special education. She then went on to earn her master’s degree in Instructional learning from The John Hopkins University. Janet’s studies and instructional practices benefited her students by enhancing her teaching and providing new tools for students when necessary. After sharing her knowledge with her colleagues, she realized that her ability to help others could extend beyond special education. Over the past 26 years, Janet has helped students overcome their barriers and move closer to their potential. By listening to, advising, encouraging, and making community referrals for her students, Janet has helped students achieve academic success and empowered them to make positive changes. As a learning facilitator at the Lebanon County Career and Technology Center for the past four years, she has helped students gain employment skills in high-demand, high paying jobs. Without her support many of these students would not be successful.
Janet also focuses on girls learning trades, especially in non-traditional career fields such as automotive technology. She has completed her doctoral studies at Slippery Rock University, researching how schools can best create therapy dog programs that help students with dealing with trauma.
She serves Lancaster and Lebanon County students as a teacher in the Immediate Unit’s Partial Hospitalization Program. She is involved with the St. James Players. This group’s mission is to leverage the medium of live theater to provide belonging, safety, and emotional support to our youth in Lebanon County.
Nominated by Chris Garchinsky, Ph.D.