Hempfield hires 2 new elementary principals

Hempfield Area School District has hired two new elementary school principals.

Jeff Kozuch is now principal of Maxwell Elementary School. Lauren Weisser will serve as principal at Stanwood Elementary School.

Kozuch and Weisser will be paid about $118,000 per year.

Kozuch has been in the Hempfield district for 24 years, working mostly as a middle school teacher. He received his bachelor’s degree in elementary and kindergarten education from Penn State University and holds certifications in middle level mathematics and science. He received his master’s degree in administration and policy from the University of Pittsburgh.

Weisser has spent the last 10 years working for the Woodland Hills School District in several teaching positions, including fifth and sixth grades and autistic support. Since January 2018, she worked as an assistant principal at Wilkins Primary School.

She received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education and special education, with a middle level mathematics certification, from Mercyhurst University. Weisser received her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Gannon University and a principal’s certification from Robert Morris University.

Kozuch and Weisser were hired last week after Mary Rovedatti Jackson and Aaron Steinly announced their retirements as elementary principals.

Stanwood Elementary Principal John Behrendt will move to Fort Allen Elementary School.

In the district’s middle schools, Wendover and West Hempfield principals were switched. Wendover principal Deanna Mikesic, who has been at the school for 13 years, has been reassigned to West Hempfield. Her position at Wendover will be filled by David Vezendy, who served as principal of West Hempfield for the past two years and previously as assistant high school principal.