Greensburg Salem administrator to take on principal role at Mountain View Elementary

Greater Latrobe School Board looked to neighboring Greensburg Salem School District to fill a vacant elementary principal slot.

The board on Tuesday agreed to hire Lindsay Scarpo, associate principal at Greensburg Salem’s Amos K. Hutchinson Elementary, to serve as the new principal of Greater Latrobe’s Mountain View Elementary.

Scarpo, who served nine years in her administrative role at Hutchinson, will receive a salary of $95,500 at Mountain View.

“I’ve heard such great things about the school and the community,” said Scarpo, a Hempfield resident and native. “I’m excited to be a part of it. With the teamwork and camaraderie here, it seems like such a great place to work.”

A graduate of California University of Pennsylvania, Scarpo began her career as a special education teacher at Hutchinson. As an administrator, she’s worked with teachers on curriculum and has been involved in the school’s Positive Behavior Intervention and Support program.

“I think I bring a passion to our kids and learning,” she said. “That’s something that has really grown over the years at Hutchinson, and I’d like to bring that same passion to Mountain View.”

Scarpo’s experience with curriculum and learning support initiatives and her “desire to lead a building” led Greater Latrobe officials to pick her from among four finalists, according to district Assistant Superintendent Michael Porembka. There were 61 applicants for the position at Mountain View.

Along with three other finalists, she took part in a four-part final interview process that included meetings with groups of Mountain View parents, Mountain View teachers, district administrators and district special services staff.

“Working as an assistant principal under the pandemic last year really made her a good fit for us,” Porembka said.

It was uncertain when she would be released from Greensburg Salem and be able to assume her new role at Mountain View. She will succeed Becki Pellis, who recently was promoted to director of curriculum, instruction and technology for Greater Latrobe.

Students in grades 1-6 will return to Mountain View Elementary on Aug. 31. Under the district’s plan for fall instruction during the covid-19 pandemic, Mountain View parents signed up 485 students to return for instruction in classrooms, while 67 others opted for online learning at home.