About Me

Hello! My name is Maria Nealen. I really enjoy teaching in the Greater Johnstown School District and being part of the Trojan Family for 12 years now. I also really enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I have a husband of 10 years, a 5 year old son, a 1.5 year old daughter, and a 9 year old dog.

I began my journey with the GJSD in the Spring of 2013 when I had the opportunity to student teach at West Side Elementary School in 5th Grade Learning Support and 2nd Grade. I graduated from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania in the Spring of 2013 with a Bachelor of Science Degree within the certification areas of Early Childhood Education (Preschool-4th Grade) and Special Education (Preschool-8th Grade).

After graduating, I worked at West Side Elementary School as an AmeriCorps Teacher for one school year where I had the opportunity to closely tutor and assess students in Preschool-5th Grade utilizing the Response to Instruction and Intervention (RtII) model. I also worked at the Johnstown Middle School Summer in the City program tutoring students in Preschool-8th Grade and at the West Side Elementary School TLC After-School program tutoring students in Preschool-5th Grade.

During the next two school years, I worked at the Morrell Neighborhood School in coordination with the GJSD and Cambria County Child Development Corporation (CCCDC) as a Preschool Teacher.

I then spent one school year at East Side Elementary School as a Kindergarten-3rd Grade Learning Support Teacher.

I graduated from Slippery Rock University in December of 2017 with a Master's in Education Degree within the certification areas of Reading Specialist and Instructional Coaching (Preschool-12th Grade).

After the elementary schools combined, I have been teaching at the Greater Johnstown Elementary School ever since. I taught in 2nd Grade Learning Support for 5 years and am now on my 3rd year teaching in Kindergarten.

I am looking forward to continuing on this journey with my students by providing them with the encouragement, motivation, support, and compassion that they need to be successful now and in their future years to come!