Several new faces are joining the staff of Mars Area School District at the start of the 2018-2019 School Year. New teachers/staff members include:
Connelly holds a master’s degree in literacy; a bachelor’s degree in elementary and special education; and reading specialist certification from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She previously served as a special education teacher and literacy intervention specialist at Wilkinsburg School District (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
A resident of Gibsonia, she and her husband, Brian, have two children, Brielle and Brody.
Coon holds a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She previously served as a long-term substitute teacher at Seneca Valley and Freedom Area school districts; as a elementary physical education teacher at Guilford County Schools (Greensboro, N.C.); and as a middle school health and physical education teacher at Lee County Schools (Sanford, N.C.), where she also coached volleyball and basketball.
A resident of Cranberry Township, She and her husband, Brian, have three children, Jacob, Joey and Anna.
Dillner holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Clarion University of Pennsylvania; an associate’s degree in nursing from Community College of Allegheny County; and school nurse certification from La Roche College.
She previously served as a substitute school nurse at Hampton, Mars Area and South Butler school districts; as a nurse liaison and intake coordinator at Life Care Hospitals of Pittsburgh; a staff registered nurse in the Cardiac Step-down Telemetry Unit at Forbes Regional Health Center; and a registry pool nurse in the Cardiac Step-down Unit at West Penn Hospital.
She and her husband, Martin, live in Valencia.
Huggins holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Ohio University (St. Clairsville, Ohio) and early childhood education certification from West Virginia State University (Institute, W.Va.). She has also obtained English as a Second Language (ESL) certification through Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV.
She previously served as a long-term substitute first grade and second grade teacher at Mars Area Elementary School and Mars Area Primary Center, respectively; and, as a pre-school teacher at Forrest Burdette Preschool (Hurricane, W.Va.)
A Mars resident, she and her husband, Steve, have two children, Katie and Lucy.
Kayode holds a master’s degree in speech-language pathology from Duquesne University and a bachelor’s degree in speech-language pathology & audiology from Clarion University of Pennsylvania. She previously served as a speech-language pathologist at Sto-Rox School District and as an early intervention and outpatient speech therapist at Pediatric Therapy Specialists.
She and her husband, Deji, live in Monroeville.
Masiura holds a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction with a pre-K-12 literacy concentration from George Mason University; a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Pennsylvania State University; and English as a Second Language (ESL) certification from Allegheny Intermediate Unit 3.She previously served as a first and third grade teacher as well as an elementary reading specialist at Fairfax County Public Schools (Falls Church, Va.).
A resident of Richland Township, she and her husband Brian, have two children, Darren and Shane.
McCaul holds a master’s degree in counseling from Waynesburg University as well as a master’s degree in education and school counseling and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Slippery Rock University. She is also a licensed professional counselor of Pennsylvania and is nationally certified.
She previously served as a mental health therapist at MHY Family Services (Mars, Pa.) and as a behavior specialist for emotional support in Highlands Area School District (Natrona Heights, Pa.)
A Middlesex Township resident, McCaul grew up in Mars.
McCoy holds a master’s degree in school counseling and a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in Spanish from Slippery Rock University. She previously served as a school counselor at Youngstown Community School (Youngstown, Ohio); as a substitute teacher at Laurel High School (New Castle, Pa.) and Wilmington Area School District (New Wilmington, Pa.); as a graduate assistant for Slippery Rock University’s Office of Admissions; and as a customer service representative at ESB Bank.
She is a resident of New Castle.
Pittser holds a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Gannon University and a bachelor’ degree in elementary education and special education from Slippery Rock University. She also holds a middle school mathematics certification.
She previously served as a kindergarten teacher at Bradford Area School District (Bradford, Pa.).
Weinheimer, who served in the same position during the 2017-2018 School Year, holds a bachelor’s degree in studio art from Slippery Rock University and a K-12 art teaching certification from Carlow University. She previously served as a substitute teacher with Source4Teachers and Hempfield Area School District.
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In addition to the above new staff members, the District has also welcomed Travis Mineard as Director of Special Education. Dylan Altemara and Jina Coleman are new secretaries in the District’s Office of Special Education & Gifted Education. At Mars Area High School, Nicole Driscoll is a new front office secretary and Beth Yankel is a secretary in the guidance office. Kayley Thomas is a new secretary at Mars Area Primary Center.
Kelly Frantz is a new paraprofessional at Mars Area Middle School; Jennifer St. Clair, paraprofessional, has joined the staff at Mars Area Centennial School.
Additional staffing changes include…
Dr. Richard Glosser, former school psychologist, was named Director of Pupil Personnel; Todd Lape, former Mars Area Primary Center principal, is now principal of Mars Area Elementary School; and, Dr. Elizabeth McMahon, assistant superintendent, will oversee daily operations at Mars Area Primary Center during the 2018-2019 School Year.
Amanda Wilson, formerly the guidance counselor at Mars Area Centennial School, is now serving as guidance counselor at Mars Area Elementary School and Mars Area Primary Center. Brian Fox, former health & physical education teacher for Mars Area Centennial School and Mars Area Primary Center, is now the health & physical education teacher at Mars Area Elementary School.
Julie Wahl, formerly a learning support teacher at Mars Area Centennial School, is now a kindergarten teacher at Mars Area Primary Center. Emily Diani, formerly a kindergarten teacher at Mars Area Primary Center, is now a first grade teacher at the school. Jessica Kozak, former special education teacher at Mars Area Elementary School, is a second grade teacher at the school.
Krista Goodzinski, former librarian/media specialist at Mars Area Centennial School and a STEAM teacher at Mars Area Elementary School, is now the librarian/media specialist at Mars Area Elementary School. Chris Churilla, former librarian/media specialist at Mars Area Elementary School, is now the librarian/media specialist at Mars Area Centennial School and a STEAM teacher at Mars Area Elementary School. Michael Holupka, music teacher at Mars Area Middle School, will also teach music at Mars Area Centennial School.
Lynda Stewart, former guidance secretary at Mars Area High School, is now a secretary in the Athletics Office; and Faye Riley, former library secretary at Mars Area Centennial School and Mars Area Elementary School, is now a main office secretary at Mars Area Primary Center. Emily Mazzant, formerly a special education teacher at Mars Area High School, is a special education teacher at Mars Area Primary Center.
Tracey Bowes, paraprofessional, has moved from Mars Area Elementary School to Mars Area Centennial School; and Mary Kay Costello, paraprofessional, from Mars Area Middle School to Mars Area Elementary. Paraprofessionals Lita Lasher and Stacey Scalise have moved from Mars Area Centennial School to Mars Area Middle School.
For more information, call (724) 625-1518.