C anon-M ac - Canon-McMillan School District

New Administrators Join C-M School District
A
new principal and a new
assistant principal are
finding their commute to work
much shorter since both live in
the Canon-McMillan School
District.
MRS. SHANNON BALCH
anon-Mac
C ANO N- MAC SC HO OL D IS TR IC T N e ws
Mrs. Shannon Balch is the
new principal at First Street
Elementary School while Mr.
Heath Bailey is a new assistant
principal at Canon-McMillan
High School.
Mrs. Balch is replacing Mr.
Robert Kleinhans who is now
the principal at Cecil Intermediate School.
Also changing position is Mrs. Tula Dziak who has
become principal at Cecil Elementary School. She previously
served as an assistant principal at the High School.
Mrs. Balch grew up in Churchill and graduated from
Oakland Catholic High School in Pittsburgh. She holds a B.S.
in elementary education with certifications in elementary
and special education from Slippery Rock University. She received her M.Ed., specializing in reading, and her principal’s
certification from the University of Pittsburgh.
She taught sixth grade and a language support class
(grades 1-3) in the Butler Area School District, and was a
learning support teacher, IST (Instructional Support Team)
teacher and reading specialist in the Mt. Lebanon School
District. Most recently she was assistant principal of the
elementary center in the Burgettstown Area School District.
She has 15 years of educational experience that she brings to
the Canon-McMillan School District.
Her husband, George, is the director of insurance for
CentiMark Corp., an industrial roofing and flooring company
whose corporate office is at Southpointe. They are the parents
of Olivia, a fourth-grader, and Tommy, a kindergartner, both
at South Central Elementary School. They have lived in the
district for a decade.
Mrs. Balch is a firm believer in health and fitness. “We
work out at the Wilfred R. Cameron Wellness Center and do
a lot of swimming and bicycling. My other hobby is quilting
and I have made quilts for both of my children and many family members,” she said.
Mrs. Balch’s goal is to provide child-centered education to
the students at First Street Elementary.
“One of the new programs that is being instituted this year
at First Street is Blessings in a Backpack,” said Mrs. Balch,
who is spearheading the pilot project assisted by Mrs. Tacy
Ross, First Street Elementary’s secretary. The backpacks
will be filled with nutritious food and distributed for children
to take home and eat throughout the weekend. Eligibility
requirements for the program are similar to those for free
and reduced lunches. “This will be a nice program for our
students and we are glad we will have a way to provide it
to them,” she said. She also shared that the district will be
implementing a new math curriculum and that they are continuing the implementation of Common Core Standards in the
elementary schools.
38 Canon-Mac
“As I begin my first year as the principal of First Street
Elementary School, I will work diligently with teachers and
families to promote learning in a positive school community
that is characterized by child-centered decisions and instruction, academic excellence, and respectful communication,”
says Mrs. Balch. “I am committed to working with our teachers to help the children develop into successful students and
citizens.”
MR. HEATH BAILEY
Mr. Heath Bailey comes
to CMHS as an assistant
principal after two years as
high school principal in the
Sto-Rox School District.
He grew up in the Homewood section of Pittsburgh,
graduating from TaylorAllderdice High School, now
known as Pittsburgh Allderdice.
He received a B.S. in
business management and an
M.S. in business education,
both from Robert Morris College (now University). He earned his principal’s certification
from Point Park University.
Playing basketball in high school led to a basketball scholarship to Robert Morris, an NCAA Division I school.
Mr. Bailey had a varied career before his two years at StoRox including:
• Penn State - New Kensington – assistant director of
student affairs and head basketball coach,
• Slippery Rock University – assistant director of minority affairs and assistant basketball coach,
• Wilkinsburg High School – dean of students, then assistant principal,
• Pittsburgh Public School – high school principal at
Brashear, Allderdice, Arlington, and Westinghouse.
A resident of the Canon-McMillan School District for the
past eight years, Mr. Bailey says when he is not working he
loves to read, especially about U.S. and world history. Travel
is also important to him, when he has time. Two years ago,
he and his wife, Kaiyauna, supervisor of social workers in
Baldwin, Pa., drove up the California coast from San Diego to
Santa Barbara.
Nineteen-year-old son Cameron, a freshman at Penn StateGreater Allegheny campus, rounds out the family.
“I am thrilled to be a part of the team of faculty, staff, and
administrators of the Canon-McMillan School District. As a
resident, I have always been enamored with the rapid growth
and progress of the district,” says Mr. Bailey.
“My immediate plans are to get to know everyone, as well
as position myself as a learner. I value positive relationships
and strongly believe in the ‘team’ concept. I would like to
seamlessly mesh with the school community and provide as
much help and support in as many areas as needed.
“I am so fortunate to join such a progressive district that
is committed to the vision of helping students to develop the
skills needed in the 21st century. I must say that I am very
excited!”
S
amuel R. Hazo was the guest speaker at the 2013-2014
Opening Day Inservice at Canon-McMillan School
District. His topic was “The First Five Minutes of Class,” in
which he explained the importance of engaging students at
the beginning of each class session. Faculty, administration
and staff heard his demonstrations of how to do just that in
classes on any subject and every level. Mr. Hazo, who was a
teacher for 20 years, is now a composer and speaker. Locally
he composed a commissioned work, “Seconds Out,” for the
Canonsburg Middle School Symphonic Band.
He stressed that students need to find lessons relevant to
their lives and teachers can accomplish that easily, but it must
begin at the very outset of the class.
“It makes a difference whether they feel they are working.
Learning should not feel like work,” said Mr. Hazo.
He mentioned that learning
• must have an obvious relevance to the student’s life.
• must be completely engaging to feel it is worth remembering.
• must inspire the students to work for the answer – the
teacher is not needed. “Motivating” needs a teacher, but
motivating is not necessary.
• must have an understanding at the end of the class that
relates to the first five minutes of class.
• should make students feel that they can’t wait to tell
their parents at dinner what they learned that day.
Mr. Hazo has composed for the professional, university
and public school levels in addition to writing original scores
for television, radio and the stage. In 2004, Mr. Hazo’s compositions were listed in a published national survey of the “Top
Twenty Compositions of All Time” for wind band.
He has been a music teacher at every educational grade
level from kindergarten through college, including tenure as a
high school and university director.
The Newtown High School wind ensemble, orchestra,
and choruses performed the world premiere of Mr. Hazo’s
“Glorificare” in May at a special memorial for those who lost
their lives in the tragic shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary
Summer Reading Club and Bowling Club
First Street Elementary School piloted
a program this summer in which the
school’s Title 1 students participated in
a Reading/Bowling Club. Students attended on Tuesdays for an hour, where
they read to either Mrs. Dian Yost or
Mrs. Lynette Stewart and then bowled
a game, courtesy of West Pike Bowl.
The students received new books
weekly and then discussed the story
when they came on Tuesdays. Several
students participated each week. First
Street’s new principal, Mrs. Shannon
Balch, often joined in the fun and got
to know the students. Parent support
and help was greatly appreciated. On
the last day, the students read, bowled
and enjoyed pizza together. This pilot
program was deemed a success!
Pictured are Zach Sekura,
above, and Jenna
McCullough
Canon-Mac | Fall 2013 | icmags.com 39
C AN ON - MAC SC HOOL DI STRI C T N e ws
Pictured from left are: Canon-McMillan School District Director of
Business and Finance Joni Mansmann, CMSD School Board Director
Manuel Pihakis, CMSD Assistant Superintendent Scott Chambers,
CMSD School Board President Darla Bowman-Monaco, guest
speaker Samuel R. Hazo, and CMSD Superintendent Michael Daniels
School.
In 2003, Mr. Hazo became the first composer in history
to win both composition contests sponsored by the National
Band Association.
His original symphonic compositions include performances with actors Brooke Shields, James Earl Jones, David
Conrad and Richard Kiley.
He also has written symphonic arrangements for threetime Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Lucinda
Williams. Mr. Hazo’s compositions have been performed
and recorded world-wide, including performances by the
Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra (national tour), the Birmingham Symphonic Winds (UK) and the Klavier Wind Project’s
recordings with Eugene Migliaro Corporon. Additionally,
his music is included in the series “Teaching Music Through
Performance in Band.”
Mr. Hazo’s works have been premiered and performed at
the Music Educators’ National Conference, Midwest Band and
Orchestra Clinic, World Association for Symphonic Bands
and Ensembles Convention, National Honor Band of America,
National Band Association/TBA Convention, College Band
Directors’ National Association Convention and also aired in
full-length programs on National Public Radio.
He has served as composer-in-residence at Craig Kirchhoff’s University of Minnesota Conducting Symposium and
has also lectured on music and music education at universities
and high schools internationally.
Mr. Hazo was twice named “Teacher of Distinction” by the
southwestern Pennsylvania Teachers’ Excellence Foundation.
He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from
Duquesne University where he served on the Board of Governors and was named Duquesne’s Outstanding Graduate in
Music Education. Mr. Hazo serves as a guest conductor and is
a clinician for Hal Leonard Corporation. He is also sponsored
by Sibelius Music Software.
Recordings of his compositions appear on Klavier Records
and Mark Records.
Canon-Mac
Speaker Engages in “First Five Minutes”
CMS Principal to be Honored at PAESSP
D
r. Gregory A. Taranto, principal
of Canonsburg Middle School in
the Canon-McMillan School District,
will be honored with the 2013 Frank S.
Manchester Excellence in Journalism
Award from the Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary
School Principals. The presentation will
take place at the PAESSP conference at
the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel
in State College in October.
The award is presented to an individual who has been published in the Pennsylvania Administrator magazine and it
recognizes authors who demonstrate the
commitment to quality informational
services to PAESSP members and who
reflect the standards established by Dr.
Frank S. Manchester during his tenure
as executive director of PAESSP.
Dr. Taranto has been a school
administrator for a decade, with eight
years as CMS principal.
He has received several recognitions
during his tenure at CMS, including:
• Association for Supervision and
Curriculum Development’s Outstanding Young Educator Award
finalist in 2011;
• Pennsylvania Association for
Supervision and Curriculum Development’s Research and Publication Award in 2012, based on his
research on the development of a
new teacher induction model;
• Named PAESSP 2012 Middle Level
Principal of the Year.
Canonsburg Middle School was
named the 2011 Pennsylvania Don Eichhorn and National Schools To Watch
Middle School in 2011.
Dr. Taranto is also an adjunct faculty
member of California University of
Pennsylvania’s Administrator Program
for Principals, working with aspiring
principals.
He earned a bachelor of science
degree from Slippery Rock University,
a master of science degree from East
Stroudsburg University and a master
of education degree from California
University of Pennsylvania. He received
his Ph.D. in instructional management
and leadership from Robert Morris
University.
He has published more than 20
articles and has served as a member of
the PAESSP Editorial Review Board
since 2012.
anon-Mac
C ANO N- MAC SC HO OL D IS TR IC T N e ws
CMHS Students Excel in AP Exams
Some of Canon-McMillan High School’s 2013 AP Scholars pictured with Assistant Principal
Lorien Moyer are, from left, Christopher Siksa, Abby Severyn, Vittorio Migliuolo, AP Scholar
with Honor Designee Mukunda Aithal, Ashutosh Sharma, and Hunter Lawrence.
C
anon-McMillan High School
had 24 students who earned AP
Scholar Awards in recognition of their
exceptional achievement on AP Exams.
The College Board’s Advanced
Placement Program® (AP®) provides
willing and academically prepared
students with the opportunity to take
rigorous college-level courses while
still in high school, and to earn college
credit, advanced placement, or both for
40 Canon-Mac
successful performance on the AP Exams. About 18 percent of the more than
1.9 million students worldwide who took
AP Exams performed at a sufficiently
high level to also earn an AP Scholar
Award.
The College Board recognizes
several levels of achievement based on
students’ performance on AP Exams.
At Canon-McMillan High School:
Six students qualified for the AP
Scholar with Distinction Award by
earning an average score of at least
3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores
of 3 or higher on five or more of these
exams. These students are 2013 graduates Jacob Brown, Michael Burchesky,
Kevin Freeman, Austin Jones, Chad
Lani and Benjamin Macioszek.
Five students qualified for the AP
Scholar with Honor Award by earning
an average score of at least 3.25 on all
AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or
higher on four or more of these exams.
These students are 2013 graduates
Daniel Buker, Emily McPeake, Charles
Smith, Isabela Tetino and senior Mukunda Aithal.
Thirteen students qualified for the
AP Scholar Award by completing three
or more AP Exams with scores of 3 or
higher. The AP Scholars are 2013 graduates Adam Burgh, Sarah Chelli, Chao
Fang, Jeffrey Mack, Elizabeth Mansfield, Hailey Mark, Benjamin Moran,
and Matthew Tilley; along with seniors
Hunter Lawrence, Abby Severyn,
Christopher Siksa, and juniors Vittorio
Migliuolo and Ashutosh Sharma.
anon-McMillan School District annually awards mini-grants of up to $800
each to teachers for implementation of their new projects. Each awardee
receives funding for use in operating the projects. The 2013-2014 awardees and
their projects are:
“Fluent in First: Mastering First
Grade Common Core Standards”
Beth Bowen, first grade, Borland
Manor Elementary
It will utilize innovative materials and
state-of-the-art differentiated curriculum to enable each first-grade student
to master key standards in math and
reading fluency.
“LEGO Education StoryStarter”
Melissa Gough and Michelle Schrader, second grade, Hills-Hendersonville Elementary
This project is designed for grades
2-5, targeting the English/Language
Arts curriculum using the Common Core Standards. It will develop
and enhance skills in speaking and
listening, reading comprehension,
language, writing, and areas of
technology and digital learning. Students will develop skills in creative
and critical thinking as they work
with hands-on storyboarding, scene
creation, dialogue creation, exciting
action and suspense storylines. The
learning scenarios—which can be set
according to the educational levels of
the students—embrace diversity and
encourage students to collaborate and
share ideas, concepts, and experiences.
“Video Production”
Cyndy Carroll, technology education,
Cecil and North Strabane intermediate schools
This grant will provide both intermediate schools with new video
equipment. The students will run the
equipment that develops technical
knowledge, real-work application
skills, communication techniques and
confidence.
“A Creative Approach to the Common Core Curriculum”
Rebecca Wolf, seventh grade, Canonsburg Middle School
Handheld camcorders will be used
to incorporate student-created media
into the Language Arts curriculum on
a regular basis, allowing for additional innovative and creative assessment
choices across all genres of text. For
example, students can create product
commercials to address persuasive
techniques or conduct an interview
when completing research during a
nonfiction unit. The student-created
media will be available as both teaching and learning resources. Also, the
grant will support RAY (Read All
Year) by expanding book report project choices and then sharing the final
product with other students. Students
will have the option to create projects
such as book trailers, which will be
used to promote reading throughout
the school.
“CIS Winter Reading Olympics”
Courtney Laskowski and Lisa Stimpson, fi fth-grade Language Arts, Cecil
Intermediate School
Upcoming Winter Olympic Games
will be a perfect opportunity to tie
academic objectives to an exciting,
interesting world event. They hope
to create an experience that promotes
independent reading, peer motivation,
and a sense of accomplishment in the
classroom.
“Amazing Adaptations”
The Knights Team, Canonsburg
Middle School
Amazing Adaptations is offered as an
outreach program through the National Aviary. Students will discover the
unique characteristics of species with
the most amazing feet, feathers and
beaks. This presentation corresponds
with our Hoot/Endangered Species
cross-curricular studies in research
skills, adaptations, environment,
geography, data displays, independent
literary analysis and group literature discussion. The Knights Team,
which includes Randy Clonan, Kelly
Domske, Julie Gaetano, Stephanie
Kubik, and Robert Stone, submitted
this grant request on behalf of the
entire seventh grade. All three teams
will benefit and participate in this
program.
From left: Cyndy Carroll, Rebecca Wolf, Melissa Gough, Michelle Schrader, Beth Bowen.
Lisa Stimpson, left, and Courtney Laskowski
The Knights Team, from left: Robert Stone,
Randy Clonan, Julie Gaetano, Kelly Domske,
Stephanie Kubik.
Keep up-to-date on news about
Canon-McMillan School District!
Go online to:
www.cmsd.k12.pa.us
Click on: District
Click on: CM News
Click on: Highlights
You’ll find more stories and
photos about the work
going on in CMSD.
Check it often!
Canon-Mac | Fall 2013 | icmags.com 41
C AN ON - MAC SC HOOL DI STRI C T N e ws
C
Canon-Mac
Mini-Grants for Teachers’ New Projects
anon-Mac
C ANO N- MAC SC HO OL D IS TR IC T N e ws
A warm welcome to
MRS. LARA ANTIS
MISS RACHEL
BERTEOTTI
ASSIGNMENT
Health & Phys. Ed.,
High School
DEGREE
B.S., Health & Phys.
Ed., Slippery Rock
CERTIFICATION
Health & Phys. Ed.
MR. TYLER
CRONE
ASSIGNMENT
Computer Science,
High School
DEGREE
B.S., Mathematics
Ed., Lock Haven
CERTIFICATION
Math
42 Canon-Mac
MISS CHLOE
BUTLER
MISS KELSEY
CATALDO
ASSIGNMENT
English, High
School
DEGREE
B.A., English, W&J
CERTIFICATION
English
ASSIGNMENT
4th Grade, First
Street
DEGREE
B.S., Elem. Ed.,
Penn State
CERTIFICATION
Elem. Ed.
ASSIGNMENT
2nd Grade,
Wylandville
DEGREE
B.S., Elem. Ed.,
Penn State
CERTIFICATION
Elem. Ed. & MidLevel Math
MRS. SAMANTHA
JACOBS
MISS LAUREN
KOTZ
MRS. STEPHANIE
LAWRENCE
MRS. LAURA
LOSI
ASSIGNMENT
6th-Grade Reading, NSIS
DEGREE
B.S., Elem. Ed.,
Calif. Univ. of PA
CERTIFICATION
Elem. Ed.
ASSIGNMENT
5th-Grade Math/
Science, Cecil
Intermediate
DEGREES
B.S., Multi-Disciplinary Studies, &
M.S., Elem. Ed.,
Minor - Sp. Ed., all
from WVU
CERTIFICATION
Elem. Ed.
ASSIGNMENT
Autistic Support,
South Central
DEGREE
B.S., Elem. & Sp.
Ed., Bethany
College
CERTIFICATION
Elem. Ed. & Sp.
Ed.
ASSIGNMENT
Learning Support,
High School
DEGREE
B.S., Elem. Ed.
& Sp. Ed., Calif.
Univ. of PA
CERTIFICATION
Elem. Ed. &
Special Ed.
MR. BRANDON
CHARRIERE
ASSIGNMENT
Social Studies, High
School
DEGREES
B.S., Business
Administration, WVU;
M.A.T., Social Studies, Calif. Univ. of PA
CERTIFICATION
Social Studies &
Business, Computer
& Information Technology
ASSIGNMENT
Tech. Ed., High
School
DEGREES
Associate’s Degree, Architectural
Drafting/Design,
Triangle Tech;
B.S., Tech. Ed.,
Calif. Univ. of PA
CERTIFICATION
Tech. Ed.
MS. CARA
SENGER
ASSIGNMENT
Math, Middle
School
DEGREES
B.S. Math, Pitt;
B.S. Secondary
Math Ed., Point
Park
CERTIFICATION
Math
MS. EMILY
MARIER
MRS. DANA
McGRATH
MISS PAMELA
MONIODES
MISS OLIVIA
RILE
ASSIGNMENT
Autistic Support,
NSIS
DEGREE
B.S., Elem. & Sp.
Ed., Calif. Univ.
of PA
CERTIFICATION
Elem Ed. & Special
Ed.
ASSIGNMENT
Chemistry, High
School
DEGREE
B.S., Chemistry,
Pitt
CERTIFICATION
Chemistry &
General Science
ASSIGNMENT
Special Ed., Middle
School
DEGREES
B.S., Earth & Space
Science Ed., PittJohnstown; M.S.,
Sp. Ed., Waynesburg
Univ.
CERTIFICATION
Earth & Space
Science, Sp. Ed.,
General Science
ASSIGNMENT
1st Grade,
Wylandville
DEGREE
B.S., Early
Childhood Ed.,
Duquesne
CERTIFICATION
Pre-Kindergarten
-4
MISS SARAH
SHUE
MR. JACK
SMARSLAK
MISS ASHLEY
VAN AUKEN
ASSIGNMENT
Therapeutic Emotional Support,
Muse
DEGREES
B.S., Kinesiology,
James Madison
Univ.; M.A.T.,
Elem./Sp. Ed.,
Chatham Univ.
CERTIFICATION
Elem Ed. & Sp. Ed.
ASSIGNMENT
Business Ed., High
School
DEGREE
B.S., Business Administration, WVU
CERTIFICATION
Business, Computer & Information
Technology; MidLevel Math
ASSIGNMENT
Art, High School
DEGREE
B.A., Art Ed., Carlow Univ.
CERTIFICATION
Art Ed.
Canon-Mac | Fall 2013 | icmags.com 43
C AN ON - MAC SC HOOL DI STRI C T N e ws
MR. ZACHARY
MAISNER
Canon-Mac
the new c-m faculty