Jean Bird grew up in Pittsburgh and graduated from the Program in Child Development and Child Care at the University of Pittsburgh.  She taught in the Children’s School for seven years and then continued to work part-time for the DASH project (Developmental Approaches to Science, Health, and Technology), which was a part of the Center for University Outreach.  She returned to the Children’s staff eight years ago as an extended morning teacher and has been teaching morning older 4’s as well since 2005.  She especially enjoys working with children in science and music.  Jean is the Director of Children & Youth Ministry at her church.  Jean and her husband, Jim, have three daughters.  Darrah is enrolled at Community College in the North Side, Emilie is a Junior Ahleajha is a senior at Allderdice High School.

Beth McMichael earned a B.S. in Elementary Education with a minor in Physical Education from California University of Pennsylvania.  She has also completed graduate level study at the University of Virginia and Penn State.  Beth’s teaching experience prior to her work here includes both elementary and preschool assignments, with Louise Child Care, Point Park Children’s School and several public and private schools.  For six summers, Beth was the aquatic director and pool manager for the Westmoreland Country Club.  Beth joined the Children’s School as a teacher aide and was promoted to a full-time teacher to develop the Extended Morning program and continue the Extended Afternoon program.  This is Beth’s fourteenth year with the Children’s School.  Her hobbies are swimming, gardening, biking, following the Steelers and playing with her dog, Joy.  Her son, John, graduated from Newhouse School of Communications in Syracuse, New York, and currently works for College Relations/Development at Canisius College in Buffalo, New York.  Beth’s daughter, Laura, is a graduate of the University of Dayton in Ohio and Northwestern University.  She is currently an account manager/strategist with Phinney/Bischoff Design House in Seattle, Washington.

Charline Tomer earned a B.S. in Preschool Teaching/Child Development from Ohio University and a Master’s in Early Childhood/Special Education from George Washington University.  She taught two-year-olds for 3 years at the Ohio University Education Laboratory School, two and three-year-olds for 2.5 years at the Gerard Majella Child Center at Marymount University in Virginia, and three to five-year-olds for 9 years at the Elfinwild Church Preschool in Glenshaw.  In 1995, she developed a hands-on science program that she implemented with all the classes at Elfinwild.  Then in 1998 she developed a Moms and Me program for 2 1/2 year olds at Elfinwild and facilitated it until she joined the Children’s School staff in 2001.  Charline is married to Henry and has two sons, Kevin and Rich.  Kevin is a senior at Allegheny College and Rich is a freshman at Penn State University.  Charline loves listening to music, the performing arts and movies.  Charline is also active in her church and community.

Assistant Teacher

3 Years in Education

Favorite Children's Author

Favorite Children's Song
Do Re Me

Lisa Furman graduated with a B.A. in Liberal Arts from California University of Pennyslvania. She is working on her Master's in Early Childhood Education at Carlow Univeristy. She is passionate about the classroom and is excited to begin her first year with the Children's School as an assistant teacher in the extended day program. For the Past two years Lisa has worked for the Chidren's Center in Oakland as an assistant teacher. Lisa teaches in the children's ministry program at her church and also sings on the worship team. She loves to swim, swing dance, spend time with her family and go for walks.