One of our teachers at New Castle High kept on going long after some of us joined the retirement ranks.

The New Castle Area School District, at this month's board meeting, recognized Christine Picrell with a Pride and Promise Award after a career that spanned six decades. She retired after the 2002-2003 year --- for the second time.


Christine Picrell
After six decades, she retires -- again
From New Castle News
December, 2003


The 83-year-old teacher and consultant, who grew up in Mahoningtown and graduated from New Castle in 1937, started out by teaching science, business training and health and physical education at the former Mahoning School for six years. She took two years off for a stint in the Navy, then returned to teach biology at the high school until her first retirement, in 1985.

Not long after that, her services were required when the school district found itself with instructors who were teaching science for the first time. She was there to help. She also conducted seminars for science teachers in various districts, including New Castle.

The 1941 graduate of Thiel College also helped students by organizing a science lab at George Washington Intermediate Elementary School with a $25,000 grant.

From there she volunteered at St. Vitus School for three years.

Mrs. Picrell and her husband of 57 years, Genero, live in North Beaver Township. Their son, David, 46, lives in Doylestown, Pa. The Picrells have two grandchildren.

“A few years ago, some kids would say, ‘You had my mother in class.’ Now I’m 83 and it’s, ‘You had my grandmother in class.’ I’m probably older than some of their grandmothers, I’m sure.

“I have a whole shoebox full of notes from people that I had in class who thanked me. It’s been great. I always enjoyed my work.”



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Teacher dies

From New Castle News
June 6, 2005

Christine Piccirillo, 85, of 556 Mount Jackson Road died the night of Saturday, June 4, 2005, in Jameson Hospital.

Born Jan. 16, 1920, in New Castle, she was a daughter of the late Lorenzo and Carmella Conti Perrotta.

She married Genero Piccirillo on Dec. 26, 1946. He survives.

Mrs. Piccirillo, who was known professionally as Mrs. Picrell, was a tireless and relentless educator who devoted her life to improving the quality of education in the New Castle area.

She graduated from Thiel College in 1941, where she was a member of Sigma Theta Phi Sorority and was “Miss Homecoming.” She received her master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh, and continued to enhance her science knowledge with post-degree work at six major universities including the universities of Hawaii, Colorado and Rhode Island.

Her teaching career began in 1941 at the Mahoning School, where she taught general science, physical education and health. She eventually moved to the biology department at New Castle High School, where she served many years as the chairwoman of the department.

After retiring from the classroom in 1985, she was hired as a science consultant by the New Castle Area School District. She was heavily involved in establishing the science curriculum and conducted countless workshops for teachers and students.

She pioneered the “Fast Plants” program in the area and led environmental education through programs such as “Voyage of the Mimi,” which involved the studies of a group of scientists who observed humpback whales.

In 1990, she earned the Distinguished Service to Science Education Award from the National Science Teachers Association.

Mrs. Piccirillo, who finally retired in 2003, was an icon of the New Castle school system for more than 62 years. She once remarked, “Students used to say, ‘You had my mother in class.’ Now they say, ‘You had my grandmother in class.”

A Navy veteran of World War II, she served as a hospital apprentice first class at the Naval Hospital in Brooklyn, N.Y.

She was a member of St. Lucy Church of St.Vincent de Paul Parish.

In addition to her husband, survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, David and Theresa Piccirillo of Doylestown, Pa.; a sister, Imogene Nucci of New Castle; and two grandchildren, Robert and Laura.

She was preceded in death by three brothers, Samuel Perrotta, John Perrotta and Peter Perrotta; and two sisters, Rose Giuliano and Rachael Pagley.