Fox Chapel Area School Board leadership will remain the same heading into the new year.

The school directors reelected Marybeth Dadd and Ron Frank as president and vice president, respectively, for the nine-member panel.

Board member Vanessa Lynch also was reelected as assistant board secretary.

Votes were unanimous at a reorganization meeting Dec. 3.

All three were first elected to the board in 2019 and were reelected in November 2023.

Dadd represents the district’s Region 3. Frank and Lynch represent the district’s Region 2.

Dadd and Frank will be entering their fifth years as president and vice president, respectively.

“I’m glad that my fellow board members have faith in me to continue to be the president, and I am happy to keep leading the board,” Dadd said. “We work very well together.

“(I look forward to) continue the work we’ve been doing on our capital plan. It’s really important to keep all of our buildings safe and functional. We need to keep working on that, and of course keep our high education standards for our students.”

Frank echoed Dadd’s comments. He noted the district has between $40 million to $45 million worth of maintenance and repair projects this coming year.

“I’m happy the board members are satisfied with the job that we are doing as leadership,” Frank said. “It’s a good situation where we’re working with a great team of administrators, a great team of board members, faculty members and students and parents who are all pushing to the same goal.

“We have a lot of buildings (that) need updated and essentials such as heating and air conditioning, ventilation and lighting. There’s a lot of issues that we are addressing and planning ahead. We don’t want to be caught in a crisis.”

Frank said the board has a focus on “continued excellence” and needs to prepare for some upcoming retirements.

“We have a lot of faculty members that are leaving in the next couple years who have given a lot of great service,” Frank said. “We have to work on replacing those with excellent teachers and principals as well. We have an early retirement incentive so we know a group of teachers are leaving in the next couple years.”

Dadd’s background

Dadd, an O’Hara resident, received a bachelor of arts degree in secondary education/social studies from Niagara University, a master’s of science degree in curriculum development and instructional technology from the University of Albany. She also earned a graduate certificate in supervision of curriculum and instruction from Duquesne University.

She worked as a seventh, 10th and 11th grade social studies teacher in New York, North Carolina and Massachusetts before moving to Pittsburgh in 2007. She currently works as a supervisor of student teachers at Duquesne University.

Frank’s background

Frank, an Indiana Township resident, retired from the district in 2018 after spending more than 40 years as an art teacher.

During his career, Frank was Fox Chapel Area’s head wrestling coach for 40 years. His coaching career victories are third all-time in WPIAL wrestling history, and he has continued to help the program as a volunteer wrestling coach at the high school. He also coached football and baseball.

He is a past president of the Fox Chapel Educators Association and also served as the group’s vice president and chief negotiator from 1988-2018.

Frank is a committee member of the Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic, an executive committee member of the Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches Association and president of the Pittsburgh Wrestling Coaches. He also is a committee member of the Fox Chapel Area Schools Sports Hall of Fame and the Indiana Township Democratic Committee.

Lynch’s background

Lynch, an Indiana Township resident, has a bachelor of arts degree in English literature from Purdue University and a master’s of education in community counseling from the College of William and Mary.

She worked for many years in nonprofit organizations in the fields of mental health and advocacy with children and families. She also helped to launch her family’s small business, where she specialized in networking and marketing.

Lynch also does advocacy work as a field organizer/state coordinator for a national organization focused on children’s health and clean air, and has volunteered in numerous roles within the district.

“I am excited to serve the board and appreciate all the work that goes in to making our meetings and our jobs go well,” Lynch said. “My job is a lot less strenuous than Mr. Frank and Ms. Dadd, so I’d give the floor to them.”

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