Plum principal swaps ‘interim’ for official title

Since November, the principal of Plum’s Pivik Elementary School had been working with “interim” as part of his title.

With the school board’s approval, Michael Gauntner now is the lead administrator minus the temporary connotation.

“Really, I didn’t really think about that. The title doesn’t mean anything. It’s just having the opportunity to be that instructional leader regardless of what the title is, or what building I’m in,” the Plum resident said. “Working with the students, staff and the parents, that’s the best part, knowing that I’m going to have that opportunity to continue to work in this elementary setting with these individuals. It’s exciting.”

Gauntner’s hiring as principal was made official at the board’s April 26 meeting, which he attended dressed in a suit and tie, but with a Marvel Comics Iron Man button on his name badge and lanyard. The button was given to him by a student at Pivik, showing the impact that he has already had during his time as interim principal.

He said that he wore it because he likes comic books and also to show that adults “have just as much in common with the young kids as they do with the older students.”

When Gauntner joined Plum Borough School District in 2016, he started as assistant principal at the senior high school. He previously worked for 17 years in Penn Hills School District as a classroom teacher, math coach, and elementary and middle school principal.

He said he wanted to come to Plum because his daughters, Mika, 20, and CJ, 11, have gone to school in the district. Mika graduated 2018 and CJ is now in sixth grade at Holiday Park Elementary.

His son, Noah, 9, is in third grade at Pivik.

Gauntner said he and his wife, Sara, love living and raising their family in Plum.

“We moved into it and everyone’s been very welcoming,” he said. “It’s like that small-town feeling, but it’s not a small town. It’s that sense of community. We’re glad to be a part of it, but I’m also glad my kids have an opportunity to be involved with something like that.”

Gauntner has a twin, Brian, who works in the financial field.

The principal said he loves being at Pivik so much he would not trade places even for a day.

Michael Caliguiri, school board president, said Gauntner was selected from among 22 candidates for the position, which carries a $110,000 salary.

“He has great character and is dedicated to the education and care of children, both inside and outside ofthe classroom,” Caliguiri said. “We are very fortunate to have professionals of Mr. Gauntner’s caliber within the district. It speaks to the district’s ability to recruit and develop a first rate workforce.

“Specifically, he brings a level of intellect, management skills, empathy, and passion that is required of building principals to meet our strategic goals. His enthusiasm is contagious. Mr. Gauntner is returning to his roots in elementary education and we are looking forward to seeing his positive impacts at Pivik and throughout the district.”

Carli Wyckoff, president of Pivik’s Parent Teacher Organization, also expressed enthusiasm.

“I am here to say thank you to all of you who have had a decision in part of the process for hiring Mr. Gauntner as our Pivik principal,” she said at the school board meeting. “We have absolutely loved our experience with him since he came and interimed for us. It’s been nothing but wonderful, so I just wanted to thank everyone.”