For Latoya Pitts, a paraprofessional in the district, the favorite part of her job is simple: just seeing happy kids.  

“I love seeing them smile. That puts a smile on my face and makes me feel like I’m doing a great job,” said Pitts. “That’s the best part of my days, just the love from the children. That just gives me joy.”  

Certainly, Pitts gives her students and coworkers a lot to smile about. Pitts has impressed her peers with her dedication and caring approach. For her efforts, Pitts was chosen by her coworkers as September’s Employee of the Month.  

“She is always maintaining a positive attitude and fostering a welcoming environment for her students,” said one coworker.

“Her dedication ensures that every student receives the attention and encouragement necessary to succeed,” said another coworker.  

Pitts has worked at the district for roughly two and a half years, but her ties to Duquesne City are deep. Pitts was born and raised in Duquesne City, graduated from Duquesne City, and also has coached football, flag football, and basketball in Duquesne City for quite some time. At the district level, Pitts is the girls basketball head coach. In the community, Pitts also works for Cure Violence, a community organization dedicated to quelling violence through evidence-based practices.  

“I love giving back to my community. I feel like all communities need more people to give back. I just love Duquesne. I love the kids and parents here,” said Pitts. “I want to see all of the Duquesne kids succeed, thrive, and do great.”  

Due to Pitts’ entrenched status in Duquesne City, and familiarity with the students and families, she’s quickly become a fixture in the district. Beyond familiarity, Pitts is able to relate well to students, as she once walked in the same shoes and hallways as they did years back.  

“I know the majority of kids that go here, and if I don’t know them, I get to know them once they get here. It makes it a lot easier. When the kids see me, they respect me because they know I know their parents. It also helps because I have more that I can talk to them about. If they need somebody to talk to, it makes it easier for them to come to me because they’ve seen me outside of the school setting,” said Pitts.  

“I love working with kids. I love helping them get through any problems that they have, and being a friend to them. I like being someone to listen to them when they need somebody.”