Daisha Clayton proud to be 1st Black person in decades to serve on Vandergrift Council
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As Daisha Clayton settles into her third month on Vandergrift Council, she’s keenly aware of the significance of being chosen to fill that role.
When Clayton was appointed to Vandergrift Council in December, she was only the second Black person to serve as a councilperson. The late Lorelei Whaley, who served three decades ago, was the first.
Vandergrift, founded in 1895, has only a 5.2% Black population, according to 2020 U.S. Census data. So the opportunity to be a voice that helps shape the values of the predominantly white community is something Clayton understands and appreciates — an opportunity that is magnified during February, Black History Month.
“Whether it be ethnicity, religion, race or LGBT, the goal is to embrace our differences and history every day of the year — not just a month,” Clayton said. “I’m glad to contribute as a Black woman, and one of my priorities on council is being a representation of my community.”
Clayton is deeply committed to Vandergrift, her childhood home that she has embraced as an adult. After graduating from Kiski Area High School, she earned a degree in education at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She has taught more than 20 years at Kiski Area East Primary School in Vandergrift.
She came to Vandergrift from Texas at age 8, after her parents’ divorce, to live closer to her aunt.
“We weren’t the only Black family but one of several,” she said. “We all knew one another and considered ourselves family. We all attended the same churches and social clubs.”
During elementary school, Clayton said, she didn’t pay much attention to the demographic makeup of her class.
“My school experience was overall positive,” she said. “However, it became more evident over time that I was a minority in high school. There weren’t many kids in school who looked like us.”
Clayton said it was a third grade teacher, Lorraine Facchine, who made a memorable impression that rooted her decision to pursue a degree in elementary education.
“She always made me feel special,” Clayton said. “She used to write me little notes telling me what a great reader I was. I knew I wanted to have an impact on other children the same way she impacted me.”
As an educator, Clayton has long experience with making Black History Month come alive. Each year, she invites her students to select a Black person they admire to research and present their project to the class.
“There are countless people I admire who happen to be Black,” Clayton said. “Throughout history, there are so many Black people who have done great things through adversity that I find it difficult to choose one.”
Among the African Americans profiled by her students are Rosa Parks, Barack Obama, Mae Jemison, Martin Luther King Jr., Ruby Bridges, Muhammad Ali, Henry “Box” Brown, Oprah Winfrey and Kobe Bryant.
“It’s completely their choice of who they’d like to feature,” Clayton said.
As councilwoman, Clayton serves on the budget, building and grounds and parks and recreation committees.
Fellow Vandergrift Councilwoman Marilee Kessler noted the universal respect Clayton enjoys.
“I can see that it’s a good thing for our community to have a more representative council, reflecting the makeup of the community better,” Kessler said.
Clayton called her two sons, Mason and Dutch, her “pride and joy.” Mason is a sophomore at Penn State University, and Dutch is a third grader at Kiski Area East Primary School.
For Clayton, setting an example for youths in her community is important.
“It makes me proud. Representation matters. It’s important to me that my students see me in the classroom,” Clayton said. “And this position on council holds that same significance.”
Clayton said her message to Vandergrift residents is one of unity.
“Let’s celebrate each other,” she said.