Outdoor Classroom Progress 2023

Cranberry High School to Honor Florence Heyison with Outdoor Classroom

By Lilyan Carter | 9/28/23

The outdoor classroom committee gathered for a meeting with the Heyison family at Cranberry High School, on Friday, September 7th, for an update on the outdoor classroom and the future progress to be made.

Those in attendance included Superintendent Bill Vonada, Maintenance Supervisor Ed Turner, Vice-Principal Kayla Loll, Principal Richard Smith, Joe and Leslie Heyison, Teacher Heather Motter, Shop Teacher Jon Piercy, President of Bridge Builders Community of Foundations Trenton Moulin, and Shop Teacher Chad Clark. 

The vision of the outdoor classroom was conceived around the end of 2021 by Cranberry High School’s senior high student council who thought that the empty space outside of the back of the high school could be used for something purposeful. Brainstorming with other stakeholders at the school, the idea of adding two buildings, a green house and a seating area to be used as a classroom, was generated. 

A student-built structure is new to the high school so the process had to be thought out carefully. Richard Smith, principal at Cranberry High School, told the Heyisons,“This was the first time we built something like this.”

Planning began immediately and the first building, the outdoor classroom, started its construction at the end of September 2022 after board approvals, permits, and a plan to raise funds were completed.

Community grants from Bridge Builders and PNC are funding the project. The Heyison family donated a large amount of funds to Bridge Builders earmarked for Cranberry High School specifically. When they found out about this idea, Joe Heyison contacted Trenton Moulin, President of Bridge Builders Community of Foundations, about having the money used for this purpose. Moulin contacted Richard Smith, principal of Cranberry High School, who then delivered the news that the project was a go. 

The outdoor classroom is dedicated to Florence Recht Heyison, who taught a class, Problems of Democracy, at Cranberry High School from 1966-2000. Heyison had an amazing bond with the students she was teaching and left a lasting impact on the school which is why she was chosen to be honored. According to her son, Joe Heyison, when she retired, students and staff held a tribute. Sadly, she passed away in 2020.

Joe and Leslie Heyison, Florence’s son and daughter-in-law, were invited to view the progress and future plans for the dedication of the outdoor classroom and asked for their input into its construction. They were very excited and impressed with the project. 

The Heyisons’ son, Mike, was included in the meeting through a video-call. He thanked those in attendance for everything that has been done to make this possible. 

Motter then escorted the group to the outdoor classroom to show the building, discuss the continued progress, and answer questions. 

Motter asked Heyison if he wanted certain things added to the outdoor classroom and Heyison responded, “Whatever works for your educational systems. Always put Cranberry first.”

Cranberry High School’s shop teachers, Chad Clark and Jon Piercy, got the construction of the outdoor classroom process started. Clark and Piercy had help from students in their classes which was a great learning experience for their students. 

According to Piercy, all of the students who helped with this project had fun and learned new things. “Students are proud of what they accomplished.”

Motter asked the Heyisons how they wanted to honor their mother. A plaque was agreed upon and the design and placement will come from Joe and Mike Heyison.

In order to complete the outdoor classroom portion, the covered outdoor classroom will have a ceiling, lights, fans, cabinetry, and a Smartboard added, and a patio for students to sit in the sun will be placed with Adirondack chairs. All of the work will be done by Cranberry shop teachers and students.