Christina Gabonay is the Education Coordinator for Mon Valley Academy for the Arts. She is a versatile educator and writer who specializes in Spanish language instruction. Holding a PA Instructional II English 7-12 certification, a PA Instructional II Spanish PK-12 certification, and a PA Specialist Certificate in English as a Second Language, Christina is well-equipped to cater to diverse educational needs.

Her educational journey began at Duquesne University, where she earned a BA in K-12 Education and a BS in Spanish. Achieving a notable 3.59 GPA, she made the Dean’s List and was a member of honor societies, including Phi Eta Sigma and Phi Sigma Iota.

Christina’s career spans various roles, including her current position as an educator and writer at Chickadee Education since 2020. Here, she develops PreK-12 educational resources in Spanish, English language arts, elementary math, science, and STEAM. As a dedicated writer, Christina has contributed policy and waiver documents for a local non-profit. She provided numerous no-cost activities and workshops to area children, showcasing her commitment to community engagement.

Her involvement with the Penn State Master Gardeners as a volunteer Youth Outreach Program Developer and Social Media moderator further demonstrates her passion for educational outreach.

Christina’s earlier teaching experiences include roles in the Uniontown Area SD and Southmoreland SD as a middle school Spanish teacher and youth sports instructor for the YMCA. Her international experience includes teaching English as a Foreign Language, Italian, and Computer Studies in Ireland.

In addition to her teaching roles, Christina has been actively coaching various sports, including volleyball, soccer, cheerleading, and basketball. Her dedication to education extends beyond the classroom environment, as seen in her roles as a Head Cheerleading Coach at St. Mary and Assistant Volleyball Coach for Southmoreland SD.