Title: Business Computer Information Technology Teacher
Company: Commonwealth Charter Academy
Location: Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, United States
Katie E. Gindlesperger, MBA, MS, a Business Computer Information Technology teacher at Commonwealth Charter Academy, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Educators for dedication, achievements, and leadership in education.
For over 20 years, Ms. Gindlesperger has demonstrated exceptional skill as a teacher and curriculum developer in both an in-person and online educator role. Prior to becoming involved in education, she gained experience in the business world while working in the private sector. Ms. Gindlesperger fully embraced her passion for teaching in 2004, when she joined the Spring Grove Area School District (SGASD) as a high school Business Computer Information Technology teacher. Active as an in-person teacher from 2004 to 2024, she taught and wrote the curriculum for more than 10 different courses while offering independent studies as well as regional, state, and national competition opportunities for her students.
While working with SGASD, Ms. Gindlesperger joined her colleagues in navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most notably, this required changing from in-person to online classes, then eventually to a hybrid approach. These transitions proved difficult for students and teachers alike, but Ms. Gindlesperger showcased her adaptability. She has carried many lessons forward from those experiences, has continued to utilize the 1:1 technology provided to each student primarily funded by a mix of local, state, and federal sources, as well as growing the benefits for her students by stretching the boundaries of learning far beyond her classroom. Ms. Gindlesperger embraced the change and growth painfully experienced by all educators during the pandemic and refused to shrink back to the whiteboard.
Since 2024, Ms. Gindlesperger has served as an online high school BCIT teacher at Commonwealth Charter Academy (CCA), a top-accredited, tuition-free Pennsylvania public cyber charter school for K12 students. She prides herself on understanding and meeting the needs of individual students, a goal shared by the institution. Ms. Gindlesperger instructs over 500 students each year but works hard to adapt her curriculum and interact with students one-on-one. In this role, she has been especially excited to work with CCA’s proprietary learning management system, which surpasses the capabilities of similar systems she encountered in other public school districts.
Ms. Gindlesperger’s professionalism and knowledge base as an educator in the field of business computer information technology was established and further strengthened through her academic journey. Beginning with a Bachelor of Arts in business and economics from Wilson College in 2001, followed by a Master’s in Business Administration from Frostburg State University in 2002, then concluding in a K12 Business Computer Information Technology PA Certification from Shippensburg University in 2003, Ms. Gindlesperger’s academic background is rich in the content she today shares with and teaches her students. Committed to lifelong learning, she returned to school after earning tenure and earned a second Master of Science in instructional technology from Towson University in 2019. Ms. Gindlesperger has also engaged in ongoing lifelong learning, including PDE SAS Professional Development Training ACT 48 Credits.
Though her journey has been filled with memorable moments, Ms. Gindlesperger views her many opportunities to help students as her most meaningful accomplishments. In addition to offering guidance and motivation on reaching state requirements for graduation, she regularly provides letters of reference to current and past students, further supporting their success long after their school years. Ms. Gindlesperger recognizes and is moved by the impact that her support has had on her students.
Ms. Gindlesperger has been long dedicated to civic advocacy as well. She maintains membership in P.E.O. International (Philanthropic Educational Organization), an organization that aims to empower and motivate women.
As she moves forward, Ms. Gindlesperger remains motivated by one principle that has guided her entire professional life thus far: doing what is best for her students. Teachers often find themselves at the heart of complex problems and community concerns, but she prioritizes the needs of her students in every decision. Ms. Gindlesperger is devoted to continually seeking ways to evolve and improve in order to better meet those needs, and she is bolstered in that mission by Commonwealth Charter Academy.
“I love being part of an organization that holds a belief in what they do,” Ms. Gindlesperger says. “We’re not settling for what we had yesterday; we’re always striving for more.”
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