Hoover Center Staff

Center Director

Laura Alpern comes to MLEDP with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s Equivalency in Education. She has 20 years of experience in teaching roles including teaching in the Pittsburgh Public Schools as well as substitute teaching in Mt Lebanon and Upper St. Clair School Districts. She loves teaching children!  Laura, her husband, Stuart and two daughters, Marissa and Sylvia, have been residents in Mt Lebanon for over 20 years . Mrs. Alpern loves to visit the library, the Mt. Lebanon pool, and many other Mt. Lebanon places so please stop and say hello!

Center Staff

Lisa Cushman is beginning her seventh year at MLEDP. She and her husband mike have been residents of Mount Lebanon for over thirty years. Their daughter Kathryn is a Mt Lebanon graduate and now lives in Boston. You may see Ms. Lisa walk her miniature dachshund Greta, please honk your horn if you see us walking in the neighborhood

Katy Chmura is new to MLEDP this year and is thrilled to be part of the Hoover team! Her background is in theater performance, and she holds her bachelor’s degree in Theater Education from George Mason University.  She is originally from the Washington DC area and moved to Pittsburgh in 2020.  Katy loves singing, dancing and anything that involves performing! She also enjoys making jewelry, reading and hanging out with her cat, Charlie, and going thrifting.   Ms. Katy has been an educator for most of her career and loves sharing her love for education and creativity with her students!