Michelle Dallago, The Perception Training Center, Inc.

About this Nominee

Michelle F. Dallago is the owner, founder, and executive director of The Perception Training Center, Inc., a private, academic preschool and kindergarten, licensed by the PA Department of Education and the PA Department of Human Services. Perception is a voluntary participant in the PA Keystone STARs quality initiative, ranked the highest quality, STAR 4. Perception was awarded the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, Small Business of the Year - 2024. This was an honor for Perception, considering the road to continuous quality improvement in childcare and early learning requires ongoing resilience in the face of adversity.

Michelle is a veteran officer of the U.S Army and an alumna of Kutztown and Alvernia University. She served her community in various roles over 35 years in education, from infancy & early childhood to adolescence and adulthood. She began her professional career teaching public middle school for 10 years in the Pottsville Area School District before opening Perception on January 2, 2001. She left the school district she loved with a mission to serve them better. She voluntarily taught 3rd-grade CCD, for the parish of St Patrick for 18 years, served on various ECE boards and enjoyed teaching adult learners as an Adjunct instructor at McCann School of Business and Technology. During this time, she was appointed Program Director of ECE with the role of overseeing the Student Teaching Field Experiences. While observing in the field, she developed a passion for mentoring other childcare centers to improve the quality of their early learning environments. Michelle is committed to stay true to her vision of peace in education. She understands nurturing relationships, in quality environments, during the formative years, are critical for the students who will move on to higher learning and lead our country into the future.

Michelle is an active member of the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce. She participates in ongoing advocacy for quality Childcare and Early Learning reform. She is determined to shift the mindset of our legislative leaders to understand “Education is Birth to 12, not K to 12!" Her participation in childcare reform advocacy resulted in an invitation to the Governor’s Address at the General Assembly in 2025 and the Governor’s decision to hold a Press Conference at The Perception Training Center to address the teacher shortage and need for recruitment and retention.

Michelle is the mother of three adult daughters, a published author of two children’s books, I Can Do Anything! and Grandbaby’s Morning Lullaby. Her greatest accomplishment to date, is living the title, “Nonni,” of her four beautiful grandbabies! When not at Perception, she enjoys writing, playing guitar and cooking Sunday breakfast for her husband, Rich and their growing family!