We are pleased to recognize two of our staff members, Amanda Kmetz, and Caitlin Griffiths, for their dedicated service to Literacy Pittsburgh.
Amanda Kmetz, ELL Instructor
5 years of Service
A Pittsburgh area native, Amanda Kmetz holds a degree in Marketing and International Business with a minor in Spanish from Penn State. Her lifelong love of languages and cross-cultural connections initially led her to a decade-long corporate sales career at various Fortune 500 companies. Driven by a desire for change, she earned a master's degree in linguistics and discovered her calling in education. Prior to joining Literacy Pittsburgh five years ago, Amanda gained rich experience through tutoring, academic coaching, and teaching as an adjunct instructor across universities, community colleges, and language schools.
During her five years at Literacy Pittsburgh, Amanda has played a key role in expanding learning opportunities by creating two brand-new courses from scratch: English for Business and English for Academics. Designed specifically for highest-level English language learners, these classes blend her corporate background and academic training with a deep passion for teaching.
“I loved the fact that I could combine my professional and academic experience with my passion for teaching to add value for these students,” Amanda shares. “I think that sometimes there is a belief that because students are at a higher level, they don't need as much support. However, as a language learner myself, I know that there can be a lot that you don't know. It also takes a tremendous amount of work to have the knowledge and confidence needed to truly express yourself in another language.”
Amanda credits the organization's supportive leadership and human-first culture as key drivers of her rewarding tenure. She highlights the creative freedom and autonomy offered by her managers, along with their understanding during personal and family matters, as factors that set Literacy Pittsburgh apart.
“It's been great making better lives through learning for the last five years!” Amanda says.
Caitlin Griffiths, Director of Child and Family Programs
13 Years of Service
Caitlin’s journey with Literacy Pittsburgh began in 2013 when she attended tutor training with her newborn son, Oliver, who was less than a month old. Certified in both Early Childhood Education (Birth–4th grade) and K–12 ESL, Caitlin brings a deep commitment to family-centered education. Outside of her work at Literacy Pittsburgh, she serves as the Conference Chair on the PAACE Board—a role she has held for three years—and keeps busy with her active family. A proud mother of two boys, Oliver (13) and Teddy (10), Caitlin’s household also includes a dog named Rosco, two cats (Pork and Dumpling), a rabbit (Agent P), and an axolotl (Taco). When they aren't traveling for wrestling tournaments, you can usually find them cheering at Washington Wild Things baseball games as season ticket holders.
Having navigated various organizational transitions and program expansions over her more than a decade with Literacy Pittsburgh, Caitlin takes immense pride in the ERAS tutoring program. The initiative utilizes evidence-based lessons to help K–4 students reach grade-level reading benchmarks during the school day.
“My biggest celebration is the work we are doing for ERAS tutoring,” Caitlin shares. “I am thrilled we got it through the pilot phase and now are working on the expansion to Pittsburgh Public Schools.”
For Caitlin, the heart of her work lies in the relationships built with students, partners, and families across the region.
“I am lucky for getting to work in Family Literacy because I get to watch families put down roots in Pittsburgh and grow as part of the community while building these incredible relationships with their children, their teachers, and the community as a whole,” Caitlin explains. “The families we serve often teach us more than we teach them, and I feel honored to get to work with them.”
Literacy Pittsburgh (formerly Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council) helps create better lives through learning. Recognized as a national leader in adult and family literacy, Literacy Pittsburgh is Pennsylvania's largest provider of foundational education and literacy services for adults. A nonprofit organization, it helps 3,200 individuals each year gain the skills they need to reach their full potential and participate productively in their communities. Literacy Pittsburgh provides free, personalized instruction in workforce readiness, high school diploma test preparation, digital literacy, English language learning, math, reading, and family literacy through one-to-one and small-class instruction, both online and in-person. Founded in 1982, it serves adults in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Washington, and Westmoreland counties.
