Welcoming Heather Schirra as our New Operations Manager
We’re excited to welcome Heather Schirra into her new role as Operations Manager. Many of you already know Heather from her work as our on‑site Camp Administrator in 2024, where her energy, organization, and deep care for young people made an immediate impact. With nearly two decades of experience in special education, a passion for community connection, and a genuine love for helping young adults discover life‑changing opportunities, Heather brings both heart and expertise to this expanded role. We’re excited for you to get to know her better through this month’s Q&A.
Q: You’ve served as an on‑site Camp Administrator and have a long background in education. What does stepping into the Operations Manager role mean to you? I was overjoyed when I was asked to become the Operations Manager. To me, it meant that the Luminari team trusted my communication and organizational skills enough to take on this role. As a special education teacher for the past 19 years, I’ve learned that one kind person or one meaningful experience can greatly affect a young person’s outlook on their life and on themselves. I feel that Luminari camps provide life‑changing experiences for our community’s young adults, so it’s easy for me to put forth my best efforts for Luminari and our campers.
Q: What excites you most about leading operations for Luminari? I’m very excited to get out into the community and spread the word first‑hand about Luminari! When I was Summer Camp Operations Manager in 2024, the campers were already found and registered. Now, I’m excited to be the person who finds our next campers and lets folks know about Luminari and its amazing opportunities. I’m also excited to work with our amazing camp directors again.
Q: You’ve worked with students from preschool through age 22. How does that wide range shape the way you approach operations at Luminari? Working with students of all ages has shown me one clear commonality: young people thrive when home, school, and community work together. I feel that our summer camps play a major role in strengthening our young adults’ sense of community, enriching their opportunities, giving them the ability to network, and helping them grow overall in their citizenship.
Q: As you transition into this role, what’s one goal you have for your first season as Operations Manager? My goal is to reach out to as many schools as I can and build relationships with their staff so they’ll be excited to share our camp information with their students. I’d also like to find new and exciting ways to promote our organization. I hope to spread the word about Luminari even further!
Heather and her daughter celebrating summer together.
Q: You’ve coached Special Olympics alpine skiing for years. What has that experience taught you about leadership? Being the head coach of the Westmoreland County Special Olympics alpine skiing team for the past fourteen years has taught me the importance of great teamwork and how much you can accomplish with a supportive team — much like our Luminari team! I’ve also learned how essential organization is, from managing athletes’ information to equipment, passes, and communication with athletes, caregivers, Special Olympics, and resort staff.
Q: You’ve mentioned that you love giving young people life‑changing experiences. What’s one experience from your own youth that shaped who you are today? In high school, I was part of a Professional Experience Program that gave me the opportunity to spend part of my school day helping and observing in a Special Education classroom. From that point on, I knew exactly what I wanted to do as a career.
Q: If you could design a brand‑new Luminari camp based on your hobbies, what would it be? That’s a tricky question — I have several passions! When I’m not enjoying time with my two daughters, I love a good book. I also love to travel, and my goal is to explore as many National Parks with my daughters as possible. So maybe a camp about traveling or creative writing.
Q: What’s your ideal “perfect day” outside of work? My perfect day would include being with my daughters, Derek and his son, my two sisters and their beautiful families, my parents, and my Aunt Jennie. We would be somewhere outside together enjoying an outdoor adventure. As I’ve reached my 40s, I’ve realized there is nothing more important than making memories with your loved ones.
Q: What’s one thing your campers or coworkers might be surprised to learn about you? I earned my first‑degree black belt in Tae‑kwon‑do when I was in high school.
Q: What’s your go‑to snack during a busy camp week? After coffee, lots of water, many handfuls of raw nuts, and an apple. Though I am a sucker for chips!
Q: If you could instantly master any skill to help you in operations, what would it be? It would be awesome to instantly learn any language. I love that our campers are so diverse, but at times language barriers do occur. It would be great to effectively communicate with every camper and their family members.
