Celebrating the
2024 Pens MVPs
Presented by the
AIU and Grable Foundation
Welcome to the Pens Most Valuable Principals Hall of Fame! Come back each week this fall for a fresh Q&A with one of our most recent Pens MVPs.
In 2024, each of these 15 regional principals were honored at a Pens game, received a Pens prize pack, customized jersey, and a $1,000 donation to their school for a project of their choosing.
Stay tuned for details on the nomination process for the 2025 Class of Pittsburgh Penguins MVPs!
2024 Honorees
Dr. Deidra Stepko
Chartiers Valley SD
Dr. Doug Szokoly
Cornell SD
Jennifer Cavalancia
Deer Lakes SD
Robert Childs
Nikole Laubham
Robert Reese
Diocese of Pittsburgh
Cory Sakolsky
Dr. Stan Whiteman
Highlands SD
Dr. Gina Mahouski
Mt. Lebanon SD
Dr. Jamie Eimiller
North Allegheny SD
Nicole Smith
Northgate SD
Dr. Deborah Riccobelli
Quaker Valley SD
Jeff Rojik
Shaler Area SD
Dr. Kevin Maurer
South Fayette Township SD
Dr. Tim Wagner
Upper St. Clair SD
This week’s featured Q&A is with Jeff Rojik, principal of Burchfield Primary School in the Shaler Area School District.
What is something positive that you want others to know about your school?
Dr. Rojik: The staff is the most amazing, creative, selfless, and dedicated group of people. They ‘feed off’ of the great things that the other buildings in the district are doing. It is such a sense of community because of the teamwork with our teachers, support staff, paraprofessionals, custodians, and families.
What do you love about being a principal?
Dr. Rojik: I love having the ability to see individual student growth (academically, socially and emotionally) over the course of four years. There is an opportunity to create life-long relationships with the students and families.
In your opinion, what is the future of education?
Dr. Rojik: It looks like it will be in a state of constant change. With the obvious advancements in technology, the content is continuously being streamlined so that it is very individualized and challenging for each child. The environment in which students learn will also look differently. Whether it be physical differences in the classroom or the continual move towards student centered learning, these will be noticeable changes. We are also seeing the need to further our involvement with every aspect of student/family needs. Assisting with behavioral health, food scarcity, and a variety of other stressors that impact student learning are things that we can assist.
This week’s featured Q&A is with Dr. Stan Whiteman, principal of Highlands Elementary School.
What is something positive that you want others to know about your school?
Dr. Whiteman: Highlands Elementary School is a place where a love for learning and a sense of community thrive. The dedicated and passionate teachers foster an environment that encourages curiosity and creativity, ensuring every student feels supported and motivated. We are a school that embodies PBIS (positive behavior interventions and supports) and we embrace #bethekindkid everyday! The active involvement of parents and the local community further enriches the school experience, making Highlands Elementary School a nurturing and dynamic place where children can truly flourish.
What do you love about being a principal?
Dr. Whiteman: Being an elementary principal is incredibly fulfilling because it allows me to make a difference in the lives of young learners every day. I cherish the opportunity to create a nurturing and inclusive environment where children feel safe and inspired to explore their potential. Witnessing the excitement on students’ faces when they grasp a new concept or the joy they express in their achievements is immensely rewarding. Additionally, collaborating with dedicated teachers and staff to implement innovative educational strategies and foster a strong sense of community is both challenging and exhilarating. Each day brings new opportunities to impact students’ growth making this the best job ever!
In your opinion, what is the future of education?
Dr. Whiteman: The future of education is poised to be transformative, driven by technological advancements and an evolving understanding of effective teaching and learning methods. Personalized learning will become the norm, leveraging AI to tailor education to individual student needs and pacing. Hybrid models combining in-person and virtual classrooms will offer flexibility and accessibility, bridging gaps in education equity. Emphasis on critical thinking, creativity, and digital literacy will prepare students for a rapidly changing world. Collaboration between educators, technology experts, and policymakers will be essential to navigate and harness these changes, ensuring that education remains relevant and empowering for all learners.
This week’s featured Q&A is with Dr. Deborah Riccobelli, principal of Quaker Valley High School.
What is something positive that you want others to know about your school?
Dr. Riccobelli: Quaker Valley High School is a fantastic place for learning and growth, with a strong commitment to excellence that everyone in our community strives to achieve for our students. The school fosters a close-knit community where the relationships between students, teachers, and staff are highly valued, creating a supportive and collaborative environment. Our small size allows for more personalized attention and authentic connections, instilling a deep sense of belonging and making every member feel like a part of our school family. We focus on personalized and self-directed educational experiences that cater to each student’s unique strengths, interests, learning styles, and aspirations, preparing them for learning, work, and life.
What do you love about being a principal?
Dr. Riccobelli: Being a high school principal is an incredibly rewarding experience that I love for many reasons. As an educational leader, I am privileged to collaborate with our dedicated team in shaping the future of our school. Each day presents an opportunity to create a positive and dynamic learning environment and significantly impact our students’ lives. My passion lies in building meaningful relationships with students, staff, families, and the community, fostering a supportive and collaborative atmosphere that is the heart of our school. I am inspired and motivated by witnessing students’ growth and achievements, being part of the team guiding them through challenges, and celebrating their successes. I find great joy in being a principal.
In your opinion, what is the future of education?
Dr. Riccobelli: I’m excited about the future of education, which continues to emphasize the need for learners to be flexible, creative, adaptive, self-directed, tech and AI-ready, collaborative, and innovative communicators and problem-solvers to thrive in our complex world. Schools will continue focusing on personalized, blended, and authentic learning opportunities and leveraging technology to equip our students with essential skills for the workforce. Other key trends include helping youth develop emotional intelligence and fostering positive emotional and physical well-being, being inclusive and responsive to diverse needs, emphasizing sustainable practices to combat global challenges, and preparing empowered citizens to navigate and shape the world.
This week’s featured Q&A is with Nicole Smith, principal of Northgate High School.
What is something positive that you want others to know about your school?
Smith: Northgate is a district that is not often recognized by name because it is small in size, but it is mighty in its unique talents and capabilities. It is a place where the faculty focuses on all aspects of the school experience for students and where people start and finish their careers. Northgate is a community that values passion, creativity, personal connection, and students first and foremost. We have a diverse student population and we pride ourselves on our ability to help students find a future path that is not only academically rewarding but personally enriching.
What do you love about being a principal?
Smith: Students. I love being around students. I miss teaching because being a principal is one step further removed from being with students. However, as the principal I have the flexibility to choose how and when I get to be around the students. I can mentor students who are struggling, I can decide to go into the gym and lose at a game of basketball, or I can go into a classroom and learn alongside a group of scholars. I love that I get a bunch of different opportunities to interact with the students.
In your opinion, what is the future of education?
Smith: The future of education looks very personalized, fluid, and skills-based. The workforce is different than it was even two years ago, and it changes so rapidly that I don’t think we can put the future of education into a certain box or give it a certain definition. I remember when one of my students told me that he had his own business. He told me that he buys shoes, wears them, takes pictures wearing the shoes, and then resells them for a profit. I was flabbergasted. You know what? It was a real business and he made real money. We need a system that can prepare students for careers that we can’t even believe are real. The only way to be ready for that is to teach students skills that are dynamic and capable of transcending current titles.
This week’s featured Q&A is with Dr. Deidra Stepko, principal of Chartiers Valley Primary School in the Chartiers Valley School District.
What is something positive that you want others to know about your school?
Dr. Stepko: Our school community is the best! All of the adults care deeply for our students and are committed to ensuring each child reaches their full potential. Our building focus is on equity and excellence. As a primary school, we are not only the foundation for the basics of academics, but also for instilling a love of school and lifelong learning.
What do you love about being a principal?
Dr. Stepko: As someone who absolutely loved being a teacher, it was a very difficult decision for me to leave the classroom. However, it didn’t take long for me to fall in love with being a principal. As a principal, I still get to work directly with students, so I can affect their academic success and their futures. I also get to work closely with teachers and the families of students to help build and strengthen the partnerships that positively impact student success. Greeting students every morning is the absolute best part of my day. I love making sure that each child feels welcomed and excited to embark on their learning journey!
In your opinion, what is the future of education?
Dr. Stepko: I believe that the future of education is going to rely on relationships. As learning shifts to be more personalized and competency-based, and teachers shift their roles from being sources of information to facilitators of learning, understanding each other as individuals and building interpersonal relationships will become increasingly important.
