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McKeesport Area School District

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McKeesport Area School District Has New Leadership

The McKeesport Area School District has new leadership with the unanimous approval by the school board at its January 16th meeting. Donald L. MacFann was approved for a 5-year contract with the district as the new Superintendent.  Matthew L. Mols was approved for a 5-year contract as Assistant Superintendent. Mols had been serving since last summer as Assistant to the Superintendent.

An alumnus of California University of Pennsylvania (Penn West), Mr. MacFann earned his undergraduate degree in Elementary Education, Special Education, Driver and Safety Educations and Athletic Coaching Certification. He obtained his master’s degree in Teaching and Curriculum, K-12 Principal Certification and his Superintendent’s Letter of Eligibility from the University of Pittsburgh. MacFann continued his education at Grand Canyon University in the area of Educational Leadership at the University Level, where his research centered on the unequal use of exclusionary discipline and the inequalities in school discipline.

MacFann’s teaching career began in 1994 at the elementary and alternative education levels for Clairton Area School District as the Director of Special Education and later served as the elementary school principal. He was then hired as the high school principal and Athletic Director within the Clairton Area School District. He served as the high school principal, Assistant Superintendent and Superintendent of Schools for the East Allegheny Area School District in Allegheny County. It was a personal goal of MacFann’s to gain a range of leadership experiences from rural, suburban and urban school districts.

MacFann most recently served as the Superintendent of Schools for the Bethlehem -Center School District in Washington County. During his tenure he led and supported the development of curriculum, instruction, comprehensive planning, and ensured all students are given an equal opportunity to learn and grow.

The McKeesport Area District School Board worked with Albert Educational Consulting for several months to identify a school superintendent who possesses outstanding leadership skills and can fully relate to the McKeesport Area School District. MacFann was chosen from 28 applicants who expressed interest in the position.

            The new Assistant Superintendent, Matthew Mols, obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education from California University of Pennsylvania (Penn West) with certifications in Social Science, Middle School Math and Technical Education. He obtained his first master’s degree in School Counseling and a second master’s degree in Educational Leadership both from Penn West.  Mols continued his education at West Chester University of Pennsylvania where he obtained his Superintendent’s Letter of Eligibility.  Mols has worked within the McKeesport Area School District for over twenty years, serving in multiple roles in multiple buildings.  He taught history in both the high school and middle school. He also served as a guidance counselor at McKeesport Area High School. Mols was an Assistant Principal in multiple buildings during his tenure. He also served as the McKeesport Area Career Technical Center Director.  

Mols also worked as the Head Principal of Washington High School in Washington County before his recent return to MASD in July of 2024. He returned to his alma mater to serve as the Assistant to the Superintendent. Mols is now welcoming an expanded role as the new  Assistant Superintendent. A lifelong McKeesport Area School District alum and resident, Mols and his wife Sharon reside in Dravosburg.

McKeesport Area School District Participates in “Shop With A Cop”

Gift-giving is an essential part of the holiday season and once again, the Greensburg Barracks of the PA State Police under the leadership of Trooper Steve Limani, held the annual Shop With A Cop at the Walmart in Irwin. Many school students from throughout the Greensburg and surrounding area benefit from the program Trooper Limani started over 16 years ago.   

McKeesport School Police Chief Ray Andrekanic, a retired PA State Trooper and active member of the LaRosa Youth Club in McKeesport, had taken youth shopping from the club in the past. This year eight from the LaRosa Youth Club, as well as four students in the district (one from each school) were part of the student recipients of gifts from the Shop With A Cop.  

Andrekanic said that in addition to the PA State Police, “We had three McKeesport Police Officers also assisted with the event on December 18th, including Officers Dylan Vaniel, Bryan Morris and Caleb Summers.  Others assisting with the shopping project were Club Director James Barry III of the LaRosa Youth Club of McKeesport, along with the club’s Assistant Director Amber Brooks and Teen Coordinator Leonard Aiken.”  Additionally, Jason Oakley, a Twin Rivers Elementary LRS, assisted in chaperoning the four MASD students along with Alina Brown, a Krise Transportation bus driver for McKeesport students. Krise Transportation donated the transportation for the district to attend the Shop With A Cop program in Irwin.  

           The holidays tend to show the generosity of the community and this program shows how different groups working together can truly make a difference for all.

 

An Early Gift for McKeesport Area School District

McKeesport Area High School students got an early visit from a “secret Santa.” Students who entered the work-out building on Monday, December 9th found brand new work-out equipment and a remodeled work-out site.

The district’s Career Technology Center students had built the separate building for the football team to use for work-outs several years ago as their building project. The district had some limited equipment for the team to use. But, when the students arrived December 9th, it was like Christmas morning – lots of new gifts in weights, benches and training equipment, bright lights and carpeting.

Students soon learned that the gifts were from a good friend of the McKeesport Area School District – The DICK’s Sporting Goods Foundation. Head Football Coach Matt Miller was thrilled to receive the donated equipment. “We have a state-of-the-art facility for our students and we’re thrilled that we have such good support from The DICK’s Sporting Goods Foundation. They have truly been a great supporter of ours!”

Assistant to the Superintendent Matt Mols echoed Miller’s sentiments, and added, “The DICK’s Sporting Goods Foundation has done so much for our elementary schools-- with our special store for parents to shop for needed clothes and items for their families, as well as sponsoring some key staff members to work with our students. Now they have added even more with this equipment. Their giving spirit is evident throughout the district. We do appreciate all they do! We hope that their giving spirit is contagious and encourages other businesses and community groups to learn the value of giving.”