It’s a rainy Friday morning in Shady Side Academy’s cozy, brightly decorated kindergarten classroom at the Junior School. The sound of laughter and quiet concentration fills the room as a small group of five-year-olds huddle around a table, their eyes wide with curiosity. A student hesitates over a tricky puzzle, brows furrowed in concentration. Before frustration settles in, Melissa Petitto-Kenny (better known as Ms. PK) kneels beside them and gently asks, “What do you think might happen if we try turning it this way?” Nearby, Nick Hammon encourages two students comparing their nature sketches from last week’s Frick Park Friday excursion. “What do you notice that’s different about the leaves today?” he prompts, sparking their curiosity and dialogue.

Moments like these happen every day in the kindergarten classroom at SSA—a place where learning isn’t just about acquiring knowledge but about fostering relationships, curiosity, and confidence. Petitto-Kenny and Hammon are more than co-teachers; they are partners in shaping a foundational year where children take their first steps toward independence and lifelong learning.

For both educators, teaching kindergarten is a calling. Petitto-Kenny’s journey to SSA began eight years ago, and she quickly found a home in the kindergarten classroom this year. "I've always known that I loved early childhood education. It is such a special time of development," she shares. "There’s so much imaginative learning, creativity, and play-based exploration. I feel very grateful to be a part of it."

Hammon’s journey began with a summer job at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, where he discovered a passion for working with young children. "I found working with young children so valuable," he recalls. "I loved getting to wonder with them, learn with them, and ask questions that spark their curiosity. Kindergarten is a great balance—we still have that hands-on, exploratory learning, but we also begin taking academic steps toward reading, math, and structured learning. I love getting to do both." He has now been at Shady Side for 12 years. 

The Magic of Kindergarten

Every day in a kindergarten classroom is different, and that’s part of what excites Petitto-Kenny and Hammon. At this stage, students are not only learning fundamental academic skills but also developing independence, resilience, and confidence. "Kindergarteners are climbing their own mountains, and sometimes those mountains have steep peaks, and sometimes they have valleys," Hammon describes. "We get to guide them through that journey, supporting them every step of the way."

Watching students grow throughout the year is one of the most rewarding aspects of teaching kindergarten. "It all happens so fast. Whenever you plant seeds, and you look away for two days and come back, there’s a sprout—that’s what it's like to be in kindergarten," Petitto-Kenny reflects. "One moment, they’re just beginning to sound out letters, and then suddenly, they’re reading words on their own. They take what we teach them and apply it in ways that amaze us."

The transformation that occurs in kindergarten is profound. “In kindergarten, they are meeting so many milestones that are like the foundation for the rest of their life,” says Petitto-Kenny. “They're learning that letters not only make sounds, but put them together and they make words. And these words, they're reading books, they're just developing so fast. And it's so magical to be a witness or a part of that growing.” 

"We are a family and I feel like these children are my children," Petitto-Kenny says. "I find so much joy in learning what makes each child and each family unique and finding ways to connect with them through their passions and interests and sharing a bit of mine too.” 

Hammon adds, "Our goal is to make the classroom feel like home. This is a safe place where they can take chances and risks, make mistakes, and know they are still loved and supported." 

As co-teachers, they model the power of collaboration. "Children pick up on how we work together," Petitto-Kenny shares. "They see that sometimes we have different ideas, but we listen to one another, problem-solve, and compromise. We want them to take that skill into their own friendships and teamwork."

SSA’s unique co-teaching model at the Junior School and Country Day School offers distinct advantages in early childhood education. Having two teachers in the room allows for individualized attention, immediate support, and a richer learning experience.

"If one of us is leading a lesson, the other can observe and step in to support students who need a little more guidance," Hammon explains. "We can also break into small groups, which lets us tailor instruction to different learning styles and paces."

Petitto-Kenny emphasizes that co-teaching extends beyond academics—it also plays a vital role in social-emotional learning. "Five- and six-year-olds are navigating big emotions and social situations for the first time. Having two teachers means that while one of us continues a lesson, the other can help a student work through a challenge in the moment. We can provide tools that help each child develop independence and resilience."

Teachers also benefit from the co-teaching relationship, having a partner with a unique perspective to collaborate with on how to make the learning experience the best it can be for their students. 

“Having a co-teaching partnership is so helpful for our practice too,” says Petitto-Kenny.

“After every lesson, big or small, Nick and I reflect on how things went and having someone else that you value and you work with every day give you feedback really helps us grow as educators every day. That's a very valuable gift that not all schools are able to take advantage of.” 

This modeling is a powerful tool for students as they develop their own friendships and a growing sense of responsibility to one another. "They start to really support each other. They make each other gifts, invite each other to lunch, and look out for one another in ways that show real empathy and growth," Hammon shares. "They also begin to use our language—phrases like 'What do you think about this?'—as they navigate teamwork and problem-solving on their own. Seeing that transformation is what makes kindergarten so special."

Both educators are grateful that as kindergarten teachers, they have the opportunity to follow their students’ journeys and educational success at the Junior School after they leave their classroom. 

For Hammon, the most rewarding part is seeing students look back on their kindergarten experience with joy. "I hope they remember kindergarten as a time when they got to play, got to laugh, and got to learn every day," he says. For Petitto-Kenny, she says, “I hope that when all my students move on from kindergarten they really have a strong sense of what makes them amazing. We spend so much time celebrating what is unique about each child and all of their accomplishments and their passions and I want them to feel so celebrated and so loved here in kindergarten that that becomes a part of them, that they move on into the world knowing ‘I am amazing, I can do hard things.’’

As Petitto-Kenny and Hammon continue shaping the lives of SSA’s youngest learners, their commitment to relational teaching ensures that every child feels supported, inspired, and ready to take on the world.