Special Education teacher Alyssa Pantilieris from PS/MS 15 in the Bronx, New York, succumbed to the coronavirus on April 5, 2020.

Sadly, the coronavirus has claimed the life of yet another beloved educator. Alyssa Pantilieris, a special education teacher in New York City, succumbed to the disease on April 5, 2020. She was only 45 years old.

Alyssa was born on November 11, 1974, in Catskill, New York. She was raised in Greenville, Green County, New York. While in high school, Alyssa was selected to be an exchange student to Denmark. In fact, she could speak Danish, Spanish, and Gtreek fluently. Alyssa graduated from Greenville Central School in 1992. After her graduation, she enrolled at the State University of New York, New Paltz. There she earned her Bachelor’s degree. She then completed courses at Hunter College, and then earned her Master’s degree at Phoenix University.

Alyssa launched her career as an educator when she accepted a position as a special education teacher at PS/MS 15. The school is also known as the Institute of Environment Learning. Her career there spanned nearly 20 years. Over the course of her career, she established a reputation as a staunch advocate for her students, both in and out of the classroom. She often bought lunch for her kids, organized field trips for them, tutored them after school, and bought them books to read. She even started a book club for her fifth graders.

In addition to her work in the classroom, Alyssa was an avid animal lover. She supported the Trampled Rose Ranch Animal Rescue and the Broome Animal Sanctuary.

To read more about this beloved educator, read her obituary published by the United Federation of Teachers, or  UFT.