Greater Latrobe staffers get new administrative roles at senior high, Mountain View Elementary

Greater Latrobe School District students will see some new but familiar faces in school offices this fall.

Chad Krehlik, assistant principal at the senior high school, will take on a new role beginning July 1 as principal at Mountain View Elementary School.

Krehlik has served with the district for 15 years.

“He was actually one of my assistants when I was high school principal,” Superintendent Georgia Teppert said. “I know he will do a fabulous job.”

Lindsay Scarpo, who served as principal at Mountain View for the past year, recently was hired as principal of West Point Elementary in neighboring Hempfield Area School District. Scarpo is a graduate of that district. Her resignation at Greater Latrobe will take effect July 30.

“It was a good opportunity for her,” Teppert said.

The board promoted Jessica Pellegrino, a high school social studies instructor, to succeed Krehlik as assistant senior high principal. She will start her new job with a salary of $80,000.

“I’m really looking forward to serving our students, parents and teachers at the high school in a different capacity,” Pellegrino told the board.

Teppert noted Pellegrino was highly ranked when she interviewed for the principal position at Mountain View a year ago, but she lacked administrative experience for that job.

With the open assistant principal position, Teppert said, “We thought this was a wonderful opportunity for her to join our (administrative) team. Being an assistant is a big difference from running a building all alone.”

Pellegrino has been a district employee for eight years. “She’s committed to Greater Latrobe,” Teppert said.

The board also approved a $4,000 stipend for Krehlik in 2021-22, for his additional role of district transportation liaison.

Mark Mears, who had served as director of transportation for Greater Latrobe, is retiring in August from his primary role as athletic director, though he will continue his affiliation with the district as wrestling coach.

Mears began his 31-year career at Greater Latrobe as a special education teacher.

“It’s been a great career, but it’s time to move on,” he said.

The board hired three new instructors, effective Aug. 23, including senior high teachers Stephen Dominick, who has 17 years of experience, for technology education, at a salary of $54,207, and John Yester, for mathematics, at $46,607. Yester also will serve as an assistant football coach.

Emily Stevens, who is certified to teach special education in grades Pre-K through 8 and has a master’s degree, was hired at a salary of $48,607.

The board raised hourly pay rates by $1 for several types of positions. Student workers and substitute food service employees and personal assistants will receive $9.50 while substitute classroom assistants will be paid $10.50.

Substitute secretaries and custodians will receive $10, representing a 75-cent raise, while part-time secretaries will be paid $11.60, a 25-cent raise.