New Kensington-Arnold approves hiring, personnel moves ahead of new school year
The New Kensington-Arnold School District hired several teachers and other personnel ahead of the start of the 2023-24 school year.
Nicholas DeFrancesco was hired as a DECA teacher at Valley Junior-Senior High School, with a starting salary of $53,368.
DECA, short for Distributive Education Clubs of America, prepares students for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. It is a new program for the district, Principal Jon Banko said.
“We are starting the actual course with our eighth graders with the intention of building a program of courses around activities and the actual DECA program,” he said. “The new teacher will also be teaching a few business courses (and) electives for our high school kids.”
Also hired were first grade teachers Brenna Kloes and Frances Mastriano at H.D. Berkey Elementary School; second grade teachers Jessica Bauer and Jaden Domaratz at Berkey; and sixth grade teacher Robert Towarnicki at Roy A. Hunt Elementary. They all will start at $49,947.
Hanna Wehr was hired as a seventh grade English language arts teacher at Valley Junior-Senior High School. Michael Strini was hired as fifth grade learning support at Hunt. Their salaries also are $49,947.
Halua Warner and Robin Pulcini were hired as personal care aides at locations to be determined. They start at $16.85 per hour.
Sara Weisz was hired as a behavioral support interventionist at a salary of $50,000.
The district hired two speech and language pathologists. Lisa Bozzo will start at $75,558 while Melissa Baumiller will start at $54,450.
Six district employees were transferred to new positions. They are Amy Obriot, math specialist at Martin and Berkey elementary schools; Jennifer DiPerna, art teacher at Martin and Berkey; Tammy Lowe, building secretary at the junior-senior high school; Allyson Davis, personal care aide at Martin; Adrienne Sell, personal care aide, location to be determined; and Angelica Guzzo, reading specialist at Martin.
The board accepted the resignations of Emily Mischen, a first grade teacher at Berkey, and Ben Carlisle, middle school soccer coach.
The first day of school for students is Aug. 23.
Brian C. Rittmeyer is a TribLive reporter covering news in New Kensington, Arnold and Plum. A Pittsburgh native and graduate of Penn State University's Schreyer Honors College, Brian has been with the Trib since December 2000. He can be reached at brittmeyer@triblive.com.
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