Ciara Cutone started her career at Hopewell Area School District as a kindergarten teacher in 2011, teaching various levels of learners. Currently, she is a second grade teacher within the district. She incorporates discovering, creating, and sharing throughout her personal collections online during lessons and focus groups within her classroom.

Ciara is involved in the Expanding Innovation Project (a pilot program sponsored by Remake Learning and LUMA Institute), Project Zero, and Smithsonian Learning Lab. She has her master’s degree in special education and autism endorsement from Robert Morris University. Ciara enjoys learning and incorporating academic activities, presentations, and resources into Hopewell, in hopes of enriching the learning of all students. Ciara loves to empower other teachers within her school. She is a firm believer in empowering educators to take risks in the classroom and empowering students to build ownership over their learning.

Ciara has learned and implemented engaging leadership activities with the Empoweredu3 grant, which was awarded to her district in addition to two others. She is always open to new opportunities to broaden her knowledge, further herself as a teacher, and further the work of her students.