CARBONDALE — Teachers in the Carbondale Area School District got their nails done and had meals prepared by students at the Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County as part of Teacher Appreciation Week.
Students in the school’s culinary and cosmetology programs are at both schools this week making meals and giving manicures to all district employees.
On Tuesday afternoon, Teacher Appreciation Day, employees at Carbondale Area Elementary School dropped by a classroom, picked a nail polish color and sat in front of a CTC student, who applied the polish to their nails.
Students who provided the manicures said they felt good doing so.
“I feel like we’re making the teachers feel appreciated for all the hard work they do,” said senior Marley Bodnar
They also said it was a good opportunity to gain in-person experience.
“I think it’s a good opportunity to get out in the community and get hands-on experience with things,” junior Katherina Elston said.
Senior Brianna Hoyer said the teachers she gave manicures to on Tuesday were really nice. She and junior Zoey Wiktorek said they felt good giving them manicures.
“It’s nice to make them feel appreciated, because teachers don’t get enough credit,” Brianna said.
Katherina was among several CTC students who used to attend the elementary school who performed manicures for their former teachers. One student even recognized Principal Meg Duffy from her tenure as principal at Frances Willard Elementary School in the Scranton School District.
Carbondale Area High School junior Emma Mrakovich Theresa Sweeney gives a manicure to Carbondale Elementary School fifth grade teacher Theresa Sweeney in a classroom in Carbondale Elementary School in Carbondale Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Nail polish sits on a table in a classroom in Carbondale Elementary School in Carbondale Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Carbondale Area High School junior Emma Mrakovich Theresa Sweeney gives a manicure to Carbondale Elementary School fifth grade teacher Theresa Sweeney in a classroom in Carbondale Elementary School in Carbondale Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Cosmetology instructor Christine Menichini said her students are used to community service trips, mostly giving free manicures, facials and haircuts at various senior centers and senior living facilities in the county. Going to the schools was a little different.
She said the trips are a way to give back to the community and for students to practice what they are learning on people outside their classroom. It’s also a chance for them to practice communication skills.
“It’s great for them to have a real-world experience,” Menichini said. “They can see those connections.”
It was Superintendent Holly Sayre’s idea to bring the students to the schools, reaching out to CTC Director Karla Carlucci in the fall to arrange for the students to come. This year was the first time they came to Carbondale Area during Teacher Appreciation Week.
“She was totally on board at that time,” Sayre said. “One hundred percent on board with doing this.”
She said staff members, paraprofessionals, counselors, custodians and cafeteria workers were invited to participate. District administrators said the services the CTC students offered to employees allow them to connect with students and take care of themselves.
“I think it’s important to practice self-care for educators,” Duffy said. “Times are difficult in education and we really try and foster that self-regulation and social emotional connections with kids.”
Elese Frazier, a speech language pathologist in the district, said the manicures were a great opportunity for her and her colleagues.
“It was nice to think of different opportunities to pamper us,” she said.
Sayre said other superintendents have expressed an interest in bringing CTC students to their districts for future Teacher Appreciation Weeks.
Outside Teacher Appreciation Week, Sayre said the district organizes team-building activities, recognizes teachers with awards at the start of the school year and at board meetings, as well as in other little ways, such as one-on-one conversations and emails. The district also assigns mentors to new teachers and those coming from other districts.
Officials plan to drive home the idea of self-care during a professional development day on Friday, which will include sessions on self-care for staff and professional development in trauma. Throughout the week, local businesses and the elementary school’s PTA also donated food.
“We appreciate all of our staff every single day,” Sayre said. “This is the least that we can do to recognize their efforts.”