Highlands kicks off school year with new hires, promotions
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A slew of adminstrative changes will greet Highlands School District students when they return for the first day of class Aug. 31.
The school board on Monday approved several promotions and new hires, setting in place new administrative teams at the high school and middle school. They include:
• Kaitlyn Selfridge as the high school assistant principal. A former math teacher at the middle school, Selfridge’s starting salary is $90,000. She replaces Nick LaMantia, who left for a job at Deer Lakes after serving one year at Highlands.
• Katie Jo Stobert as the athletic/transportation director at a salary of $87,500. Stobert previously served as the middle school dean of students. She replaces Drew Karpen, who left after four years in the district to take a similar job at Plum.
“This job is a perfect fit for me,” said Stobert, a longtime teacher at the elementary school.
• Sarah Kumar as the associate elementary school principal at a starting salary of $90,000. She replaces Mike Toole, who was promoted to high school principal in May.
• Mitchell Shaw as the middle school dean of students at a starting salary of $68,500.
The board also approved the resignations of nine employees and the hiring of 11 new district staff members, from a sixth grade social studies teacher to a seventh grade math teacher to an art and English teacher at the high school.
Two Highlands School District police officers were confirmed. They are Joe Naviglia, who previously served with the department, and Anthony Ricci. Officer Craig Harnish resigned.
Naviglia served several years before taking time off for a bout with cancer. He is well-known for posting pictures of the first day of school and other social moments with students.
“I’ll be starting those back up,” he said.
Also approved were Jennifer Dolecki and Emily Kurland as school psychologist interns from Duquesne University. There is no cost to the district for their service.