Several new faces are joining the staff of Mars Area School District at the start of the 2024-2025 School Year. New teachers/staff members include:
Aileen Brown is a special education teacher at Mars Area Centennial School.
Brown holds a master’s degree in reading specialist and a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education (preK-4) and special education (preK-8) from Slippery Rock University. She previously served as a learning support teacher at Kiski Area East Primary School and at Aliquippa Elementary School.
Brown holds a bachelor’s degree in education with a minor in literature from Slippery Rock University. She previously served as a substitute teacher at Mars Area Centennial School and as a long-term substitute teacher at Slippery Rock Area Middle School.
She is a Mars resident.
Buchle holds a master’s degree in teaching from Relay Graduate School of Education and a bachelor’s degree in education from Pennsylvania State University. He previously served as a special education/social studies teacher at Newark High School (Del.) and as a special education teacher at Edgewood High School (Md.).
She is a resident of Zelienople.
D’Amore holds a bachelor’s degree in middle level education (English) from Duquesne University. She previously served as a building substitute at Moon Area School District.
She is a Moon Township resident.
Detore holds a master’s degree in reading specialist from Slippery Rock University and a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Miami University of Ohio. She previously served as a first grade teacher at Mars Area School District and as a kindergarten teacher at Montgomery County Public Schools.
A resident of Mars, she and her husband, Vince, have three children, Asher,
Emerson and Averie.
Fuchs hold a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education (preK-4) and special education (K-12) from Slippery Rock University. She previously served as a long-term substitute learning support teacher at North Allegheny School District.
She is a resident of Cranberry Township.
Garber holds a bachelor’s degree in education (4-8), with a concentration in English/language arts and reading, from Duquesne University. She previously served as a paraprofessional (K-8) at North Allegheny School District.
She is a resident of Mars.
Ladjevich holds a bachelor’s degree in special education and early childhood education from Slippery Rock University. He previously served as a high school learning support teacher at Keystone Charter School.
Lamm holds a master’s degree in speech language pathology from PennWest California and a bachelor’s degree in communicative disorders from The University of Alabama. She previously served as an Extended School Year (ESY) speech language pathologist at North Allegheny School District and as a speech language pathologist at Treehouse Speech & Rehabilitation.
Lenzi holds a master’s degree in education literacy and a bachelor’s degree in middle level education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She previously served as a sixth and seventh grade English/language arts teacher at Easton Middle School (Md.)
Lien holds a bachelor’s degree in education with a concentration on art (K-12) from PennWest California. She previously served as a student teacher as Trinity Middle School, Trinity North Elementary and Trinity East Elementary within Trinity Area School District.
Mack holds bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Arizona State University. She previously served as a long-term substitute fourth grade teacher and as a paraprofessional at Mars Area School District, as well as a second and first grade teacher at CI Waggoner Elementary School (Ariz.), first grade teacher at Faith Mather Sossaman Elementary School (Ariz.), a first grade teacher at Newport Elementary School (N.C.), a third grade teacher at Taft Elementary School (Ariz.), a first grade teacher at Oaks Road Elementary (N.C.), and a kindergarten teacher at Magma Ranch K-8 (Ariz.).
Mezzio holds a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Slippery Rock University. She previously served as a school counselor at New Story Schools (Monroeville) and McKeon Education Group (Ohio) and as a school counseling intern at Wexford Elementary School and St. Joseph High School (Natrona Heights).
Nemtuda holds a master’s degree in education and a bachelor’s degree in applied developed psychology from the University of Pittsburgh. She previously served as a building substitute at Franklin Regional Primary School.
She is a resident of Dormont.
Nepsa holds a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education and secondary education (social studies) from Slippery Rock University. He previously served as a long-term substitute at Mars Area Middle School; as Pheonix Jr. Coyotes (Arizona) hockey director; and as Canisius University (N.Y.) ice hockey coach.
A resident of Evans City, he and his wife, Taylor, have one child, Baver.
Nypaver holds a master’s degree in secondary education and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Duquesne University. He previously served as a chemistry teacher at Deer Lakes, Beaver Falls, and Our Lady of Sacred Heart high schools; and as a long-term substitute teacher at Beaver Area, North Allegheny and New Castle school districts.
He is a resident of Pittsburgh.
Peters holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Slippery Rock University. She previously served as a long-term substitute teacher at Butler Area School District; an environmental educator at The Macoskey Center; and a caregiver at Newhaven Court at Clearview.
She and her husband, Jesse, live in Butler.
Piper holds a master’s degree in education and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Clarion University of Pennsylvania. She previously served as a sixth grade teacher and a reading specialist at Ambridge Area School District, as a teacher’s assistant at The Goddard School, and as a reading specialist at Warren County School District.
Rhodes holds a bachelor’s degree in special education (preK-12) from California University of Pennsylvania. She previously served as a special education teacher at Highlands School District and at Grade Point Resources.
Rushe holds a master’s degree in middle level education from Seton Hill University, a master’s degree in corporate communications from Duquesne University, and a bachelor’s degree in communications from Slippery Rock University. She previously served as an eighth grade English/language arts teacher at Commonwealth Charter Academy and as a substitute teacher at Seneca Valley School District.
A Cranberry Township resident, she and her husband, Brian, have two children, Nate and Jake.
Stevenson holds a master’s degree in educational technology from the State University of New York at Oneonta and a bachelor’s degree in childhood inclusive education from the State University of New York at Fredonia. She previously served as a long-term substitute fourth grade teacher at Riverside Beaver County School District; a fourth grade teacher at Anne Arundel County School District (Md.); and as a seventh/eighth grade social studies teacher for Prince George’s County School District (Md.).
She lives in Cranberry Township.
Thomas holds master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Pennsylvania State University and a bachelor’s degree in biology (secondary education) from Carlow University. She previously served as a middle school science teacher at PA Cyber School; and she held several long-term substitute teacher positions in both the middle school and high school sciences.
A Mars resident, she and her husband, Matthew, have two children, Justin and Luke.
Tomko holds a master’s degree in elementary counseling from Wilmington University (Del.) and a bachelor’s degree in early childhood and special education from Towson University (Md.). She previously served as a second grade Spanish immersion, third grade, first grade and kindergarten teacher at Cape Henlopen School District (Del.).
A Valencia resident, she and her husband, Jeremy, have two children, Linkin and Tanner.
Volz holds a doctorate in occupational therapy and a bachelor’s degree in public health from Slippery Rock University. She previously served as an occupational therapist at Early Interventional Specialists and as an occupational therapist at AOT Inc., working primarily in the North Allegheny and Rochester Area school districts.
She and her husband, Tyler, live in the North Hills.
Volz holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education (preK-4) and special education (K-8). He previously served as a third grade teacher and as fourth and fifth grade learning support teacher at Grove City Area School District .
He and his wife, Caitlyn, live in the North Hills.
Wassum holds a bachelor’s degree in early childhood and special education from Slippery Rock University. She previously served as an Extended School Year (ESY) instructor at Pine-Richland School District.
Wilfert holds a master’s degree in special education and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education (K-6), early childhood education, and middle level mathematics/language arts from Slippery Rock University. She previously served as a fifth grade teacher at Pennsylvania Distance Learning Charter School and as a teacher at St. Philip School (Crafton).
She and her husband, Chris, live in Ingram Borough, with their two children, Jack and Madison.
Yaskula holds a bachelor’s degree in health & physical education from Slippery Rock University.
He is a resident of Kittanning.
Erin Zanella is a speech & language pathologist at Mars Area Primary Center.
Zanella holds a master’s degree in speech language pathology and a bachelor’s degree in speech & hearing sciences and German from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. She previously served as a speech language pathologist at Knoch School District, Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and Genesis Rehabilitation.
In addition to the new teachers/staff members listed above, Mars Area School District is also welcoming numerous new paraprofessionals, including Madelyn Griest, Brian Hobaugh Jr., Alex Mansfield and Madeline Pifer at Mars Area High School; Holly Branch, Amy Druzak, Natalie Toscano at Mars Area Elementary School; and Carly Aloisio, Nikki Forsythe, Helianna Orr and Bret Rinaman at Mars Area Primary Center.
New secretaries joining the District include Bridget Hurt at Mars Area Elementary School and Taylor Smith in the District’s special education office. The District also welcomes Tracey Fox, payroll administrator; Jordan Bumosky, IT technician; and Christopher Walsh, school police officer.
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Additional staffing changes include…
Dr. Samatha Flanhofer, formerly a fourth grade teacher at Mars Area Elementary School will serve as acting assistant principal at the school. Karen Banze, previously a fifth grade teacher at Mars Area Centennial School, is now a gifted education teacher at Mars Area Elementary School.
Michael Fugh, previously a fourth grade teacher at Mars Area Elementary School, is now a sixth grade teacher at Mars Area Centennial School. Noah Krokonko has transferred from a special education teacher to an eighth grade social studies teacher at Mars Area Middle School.
Megan Wild, previously a second grade teacher at Mars Area Elementary School, is now a first grade teacher at Mars Area Primary Center. Madison Ware, who was a second grade teacher at Mars Area Elementary School, is now a third grade teacher at the school.
Concetta Richards, previously a third grade teacher at Mars Area Elementary School, is now a fifth grade teacher at Mars Area Centennial School. Stefanie Ising, previously a fifth grade teacher at Mars Area Centennial School, is now a third grade teacher at Mars Area Elementary School.
Emily Simon, who was a sixth grade teacher at Mars Area Centennial School, is now an eighth grade English/language arts teacher at Mars Area Middle School. Kiley Slowik, previously a sixth grade teacher at Mars Area Centennial School, is now a seventh grade English/language arts teacher at Mars Area Middle School.
Julie Wahl, previously a kindergarten teacher at Mars Area Primary Center and a reading specialist at Mars Area Centennial School, is now a reading specialist at Mars Area Elementary School. Nicole Kolson, previously a library/media specialist at Mars Area Elementary School, has moved to a reading specialist/library position at Mars Area Centennial School.
Jane Poorbaugh, who was previously a reading specialist at Mars Area Elementary School, is now at Mars Area Primary Center. Nicole Lally, previously a special education teacher at Mars Area Centennial School, is now a fifth grade teacher at the school.
Kyle Hamilton, a second grade learning support teacher at Mars Area Elementary School, is now a learning support teacher at Mars Area Centennial School. Savannah Fischer, who was a fourth grade life skills teacher at Mars Area Elementary School, is now a learning support teacher at Mars Area Middle School.
Leah Chavara, a fourth grade learning support teacher at Mars Area Elementary School, is now a learning support teacher at Mars Area Centennial School. Karen Zaphyr, who was a paraprofessional at Mars Area Centennial School, has moved to Mars Area Elementary School.
Jaimie Keith, previously a paraprofessional at Mars Area Elementary School, has moved to Mars Area Centennial School. Roberta Scott, who was a paraprofessional at Mars Area Elementary School, has moved to Mars Area Primary Center.
Kathleen Sigmund and Debra Newman, previously paraprofessionals at Mars Area Primary Center, have moved to Mars Area Elementary School. Skye Sankey, who was a paraprofessional at Mars Area Primary Center, has moved to Mars Area Centennial School.
Dave Fries, previously a school police officer at Mars Area Elementary School, is now at Mars Area Elementary School.
For more information, call (724) 625-1518.