New Kensington-Arnold teacher advances to principal of H.D. Berkey Elementary

A New Kensington-Arnold elementary teacher has been advanced to principal.

Brian Heidenreich is the new principal of H.D. Berkey Elementary, the district’s first and second grade school in Arnold. He replaces Nicole Roberts, who retired.

Heidenreich was hired at a prorated salary of $84,356.

He was chosen from six candidates, Superintendent Chris Sefcheck said. The school board voted 8-0 to name Heidenreich to the position; Steve Sorch was absent.

“Brian was an exceptional candidate in a strong pool of applicants,” Sefcheck said. “He brings 17 years of teaching experience to our administrative team and has tremendous potential.”

Heidenreich, 40, has been a teacher at New Kensington-Arnold for 15 years, the past five as a third grade teacher at Roy A. Hunt Elementary. A New Kensington native and 2001 graduate of Valley High School, he now lives in Shaler.

“I’m really excited,” he said. “I’m proud and I’m grateful to be a principal in the district which I graduated from, and I’ve been an educator with for 15 years. I think we have a unique opportunity at that building. We have a great mix of strong, veteran teachers as well as a good crop of new teachers.”

Heidenreich earned his bachelor’s degree in education at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, followed by a master’s in administrative studies and leadership, and his principal certification through the University of Pittsburgh.

He spent the first two years of his career in West Palm Beach, Fla., before returning to the area and being hired at New Kensington-Arnold. He started as a first grade teacher and then held a variety of roles, including elementary math coach, kindergarten literacy liaison and interim assistant high school principal before becoming a third grade teacher.

Heidenreich said he is working on plans to introduce himself to his school’s families.

“I’m proud to be a part of New Kensington-Arnold, being that I’m from the community. I look forward to building a strong school culture and environment,” he said. “I feel really strongly about the direction the district is going. That’s one of the reasons I went to this position.”

He is a partner in the New Kensington ax throwing business Las Hachas with his brother, Zach Heidenreich, and their friend, Brian Mangone.

Sefcheck said the district has posted an opening for the third grade vacancy left by Heidenreich’s promotion and will be hiring from its recent round of elementary candidates.

Roberts, who started her career as a substitute teacher in 1991, is the program director of the New Kensington Science Project, sponsored by San Francisco-based R&D Impact Foundation and headed by her brother, Thomas Roberts Jr., and his wife, Susan DaSilva.