Shaler Area School District hires new middle school principal

A new and familiar face is at the helm of Shaler Area Middle School.

Dr. Shannon Howard, who has been serving as the interim principal at the school since Eric Stennett went on leave in January, was formally hired by the Shaler Area School District at the June 15 school board meeting. Howard’s salary is $117,000, according to school board documents.

Howard, who is from the region and began her education career as an English teacher, attended the University of Pittsburgh and obtained a bachelor’s in communication, then got her master’s degree in education from Chatham University. Howard got her superintendent letter of eligibility from Gannon University and then earned her doctorate in leadership and administration from Point Park University.

She has been a middle and high school assistant principal in the Shaler School District for the past 15 years.

“We are very excited to have Dr. Howard leading the middle school this school year,” said district superintendent Dr. Sean Aiken. “[She] has a great vision for the future of Shaler Area Middle School that focuses on academic success and expands initiatives to encourage connections between students and staff.”

Howard also serves as an instructor at Point Park University in the undergraduate, masters and doctoral programs in the education department.

“I am beyond excited to be the Middle School Principal,” Howard said. “I believe in the work we do at Shaler Area, specifically maintaining focus on supporting students and teachers.”

Howard said the position will give her the opportunity to support the school community and that she is looking forward to implementing new ideas to accomplish this.

“One main focus for the 2022-23 school year is creating an intervention system for students to close any instructional gaps experienced as a result of the pandemic,” said Howard, with many of the English and math courses to include “dedicated time for students to receive enrichment or remediation, depending on their individual needs.”

Howard realizes the importance of the years spent at the middle school in developing a student’s “sense of self and figuring out where they fit and how to work with others,” while also beginning to explore their interests and to develop a sense of how they will contribute to society.

“It is important for us as middle school educators to foster a love of learning and impart good habits that can take a student through the rest of their lives,” Howard said.