OCTOBER 26TH, 2022
The Woodland Hills School District is proud to share that Ms. Teresa Hawthorne has been selected as a recipient of the New Pittsburgh Courier’s 2022 Women of Excellence Award.
As the Executive Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent, Ms. Hawthorne plays an integral role in the day-to-day operations of the district. She has been a part of the district for the last nine years, including the past eight in her role in the Superintendent’s office.
The New Pittsburgh Courier describes its Women of Excellence Awards as celebrating “local African American women who inspire others through their vision and leadership, exceptional achievements, and participation in community service. They are women who exemplify extraordinary stature, poise and grace. These women do it all while maintaining the delicate balance of filling the roles of helpmate, mother, teacher and professional.”
Ms. Hawthorne is widely recognized throughout the Woodland Hills community for her positivity and her compassion. She has extended that warmth and grace to her second career as a motivational speaker and life and business coach through her company Turn Up Your Life Motivation, LLC. Ms. Hawthorne has been a force of positivity and inspiration for women and for youth for over 30 years.
“Receiving this award is a blessing from God. I believe that it's important to celebrate our wins along our journey no matter how big they are or how small they may seem,” Ms. Hawthorne said. “This milestone along my journey reminds me that the challenges, struggles, and mistakes that I have made along the way only prepared me for a time such as this. It's an honor to know that the work that God has instilled in me is being acknowledged by a reputable company such as The New Pittsburgh Courier. It's an even bigger honor to be among the other women of excellence recipients who are all so deserving.”
“Every day, I see Ms. Hawthorne’s commitment to the Woodland Hills community,” Woodland Hills School District Superintendent Dr. Daniel Castagna said. “She answers every call with positivity and grace, even when the call might not be positive. I have heard her talk families into bringing their children here and listen patiently to their concerns. She is truly an ambassador for our district and our community.”
In her spare time, Ms. Hawthorne is also an accomplished singer and performer. Over the past three decades, she has had the opportunity to share the stage with a number of iconic R&B and soul acts, and she continues to perform throughout the region on a regular basis.
“I have been singing my little heart out since I was 7- years old. I sang in my first talent show when I was in the third grade,” Ms. Hawthorne said. “All of the other children at the audition were singing children songs but my mom taught me a song by the late and great Natalie Cole called "Our Love". Today, that is one of the most requested songs for me to sing.
Ms. Hawthorne and the other recipients of the Women of Excellence Award will be formally recognized at a banquet at the Sheraton Pittsburgh Hotel at Station Square on Thursday, December 15.