What brings people together more than food? That’s what our ESL Coordinator, Mrs. Butter, thought when she developed the idea for a PA Distance Learning Charter School Cultural Cookbook last month. 

Mrs. Butter has been an ESL Coordinator at PA Distance for about a year and a half. ESL, which stands for “English as a Second Language,” means that she is responsible for working with families from other countries outside the United States. Advocating for equality within the school system and making accommodations for students as needed are huge parts of the position.

Mrs. Butter also collaborates with Parent Connections Specialist Linda Williams to organize monthly events for families and students, such as Hispanic Trivia Night. 

“Hispanic Trivia Night was really cool. We basically ‘flipped the script’ and the whole event was in Spanish with an English translation,” she explained. Each PA Distance Spanish teacher also volunteered their time to make sure it was a success. 

“We strive to come up with ideas that benefit not only the kids but also the families as well.”

Prior to taking on the role of ESL Coordinator at PA Distance, Mrs. Butter attended La Roche University where she received a bachelor’s in Child and Family Studies and minors in both Education and Business Management. In the fall of 2017, she attended Carlow University and obtained a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education two years later.

She then worked as an ESL teacher for three schools in the Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit before starting at PA Distance.

 Scan the QR code above to access the cookbook!

The goal of the PDLCS Cultural Cookbook was to celebrate the diverse backgrounds of faculty and students by asking those interested in participating to share their favorite family recipe. 

And PA Distance did not disappoint! An overwhelming response soon poured in of mouthwatering Italian, American, Eastern European, Irish, Puerto Rican, Indian, Korean, Chinese, and Russian dishes (close to 30 in total). She compiled the replies into a multipage document where the ingredients, preparation process, and connection to the individual’s cultural background were detailed on each page.

In their holiday gift bags, students received a magnet with a QR code where they could access the cookbook digitally. Mrs. Butter hopes that students will hang their magnets on the refrigerator so they can scan them for instant inspiration in the kitchen.

Mrs. Butter’s contribution included instructions on how to prepare her Baba’s Slovak Spaghetti recipe. 

“The entire family would come to eat it! [My Baba] passed away in 2019 and I continue to carry on the tradition in memory of her,” she wrote.

Do you have a unique recipe you would like to share? Reach out to marissa.butter@padistance.org to add your dish to the cookbook!