Ministry spotlight:

Dutilh Preschool Will Miss “Miss Pam”

Pam Szabatura, fondly known as “Miss Pam” by 13 years’ worth of preschool families, plans to retire at the end of 2019. Her tenure at the preschool has been a gift to the Dutilh community.

“I have enjoyed working with Pam. Her dedication to the children and families of Dutilh Preschool is much appreciated.  Miss Pam will be missed by many,” said Preschool Director Diana Barnett.

After a 30-year teaching career that includes Dutilh Preschool from 2007 – 2019, Szabatura said the parts she has most enjoyed are “the children and their personalities and the fun. There is never a day I don’t want to come to work. I love it!”

A native of Springdale, Pennsylvania, who graduated from Robert Morris University, Szabatura began her teaching career in Connecticut as an assistant in the kindergarten class at her children’s school. Prior to that role, Szabatura had worked in the steel industry and in retail, then stayed home with her two young sons for a few years. Once she entered the classroom, she fell in love; she has been teaching ever since.

Szabatura’s time at Dutilh Preschool has produced some memorable moments. She recalled that during the daily morning prayer, one little boy prayed for the rain to hold off until after recess so that the kids could go outside to play. Later on the playground, he ran up and said, “Miss Pam! Miss Pam! I think God was listening!”

Another time, she said, “We did self-portraits. I demonstrated by drawing my own and gave lots of explanation, then had the children take a mirror and start theirs. Everyone got to work, and about two minutes later one child came up to show me his finished portrait, which included only two brown eyes on the paper. When I asked him to tell me about his picture, he responded, ‘It’s me! I’m nocturnal.’”

As a fixture in the three-year-old class on Tuesdays and Thursdays and the four-year-old class on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, Szabatura has worked with some Dutilh families consistently over the years. She said the things she will miss most are the kids and those returning families, where she has had the opportunity to watch children continue to grow and to teach their younger siblings.

Upon her retirement, Szabatura plans to split time between her current home and traveling to see her four grandchildren: Mila (8), Sonia (5), Xander (2.5), and Julien (almost 2). While she will miss the preschool kids and their families, she is excited to spend time with her grandkids as she and her husband figure out retirement together.

While everyone at Dutilh Preschool and Dutilh Church wishes Szabatura well, her presence will be missed.

Pastor Tom Parkinson said, “The preschool years are among the most formative for children.  For 30 years Pam has invested in the social, spiritual, and academic formation of hundreds of children.  Under her tutelage, children have discovered core values such as love, kindness, respect, and compassion. Pam’s legacy is all those children who have been shaped by her work.  We are grateful for her years of service to Dutilh Church and wish her all God’s blessings in retirement.”