Newsmaker: George Savarese

Noteworthy: Savarese is the winner of the 2012 Get Involved! Dr. Tom Baker Community Leader Award. The selection committee chose Savarese based on his dedication to the community and passion for making a positive difference in Western Pennsylvania. The award will be presented on April 4 at the third annual Pittsburgh Service Summit at Carlow University. The award honors the memory of Thomas A. Baker, a longtime Pittsburgh Public Schools teacher.

Age: 46

Residence: Charleroi

Family: Wife, Tyra; children, Sophia, 5, and Giorgio, 2

Occupation: Social studies teacher at Mt. Lebanon High School since 1997

Education: Savarese majored in history, political science and English at Duquesne University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in 1988. He obtained a master's degree in history in 1991 and a master's in education in 1996 from Duquesne.

Background: After graduating from college, Savarese worked for 10 years as educational director of the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh, which works to foster informed, independent and critical thinking about global issues that affect the nation and Western Pennsylvania.

Quote: "You try to make the connection to what was happening then and what is happening now. ... It's not just learning the dots, but actually connecting the dots."