Several new faces are joining the staff of Mars Area School District at the start of the 2025-2026 School Year. New teachers/staff members include:
Biase holds a bachelor’s degree in early childhood and elementary education from Pennsylvania State University. She previously served as a long-term substitute second grade teacher and as a paraprofessional at Mars Area School District.
She is a resident of Seven Fields.
Byrnes holds a master’s degree in instructional technology from Duquesne University; and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Robert Morris University. She previously served as a long-term substitute fourth grade teacher at Mars Area School District; as a long-term substitute instructional technology integrator at North Allegheny School District; and as a second grade teacher at Christ the Divine Teacher Academy (Aspinwall, Pa.)
She and her husband, Evan, live in the Hampton/Gibsonia area.
Gianfrancesco holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary English education from Edinboro University. She previously served as a writing tutor at Edinboro University; a student teacher at Rochester Area High School; and a long-term and building substitute teacher at North Allegheny Senior High School.
She is a resident of Cranberry Township.
Igims holds a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education (school wellness) with a minor in public health and is pursuing a master’s degree in special education (K-12).
She is a resident of Pittsburgh
Miara holds a master’s degree in advanced studies in education and a bachelor’s degree in early childhood and special education from PennWest Edinboro University. She previously served as a special education teacher at Cape Henlopen School District (Del.)
She is a resident of Pittsburgh.
Peters holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Slippery Rock University. She previously served as a first grade and fourth grade teacher at Mars Area School District; a long-term substitute teacher at Butler Area School District; and an environmental educator at The Macoskey Center.
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 fourth grade teacher at Mars Area Elementary School; a sixth grade teacher and a reading specialist at Ambridge Area School District; a teacher’s assistant at The Goddard School, and as a reading specialist at Warren County School District.
Radock holds a master’s degree in secondary education and a bachelor’s degree in psychology and business administration from the University of Pittsburgh. She previously served as a long-term substitute English and social studies teacher as well as a day-to-day substitute teacher at North Allegheny School District.
A Mars Area graduate, Ridgeway (Class of 2018) holds a bachelor’s degree in art education from Carlow University. She previously served as an art teacher at Devereux TCV Day Academy (Homestead), New Kensington-Arnold School District, and Lightbridge Academy (Gibsonia).
She is a resident of Brookline.
Vaccaro holds a master’s degree in teaching from La Roche University and a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Pittsburgh. She previously served as a long-term substitute teacher at Mars Area Elementary School.
She and her husband, Anthony, live in Mars with their three children, Liam, Connor and Sadie.
In addition to the new teachers/staff members listed above, Mars Area School District also welcomes two new members to the District’s School Police Force.
James holds a master’s degree in national security and resource strategy with a concentration in weapons of mass destruction studies from National Defense University (Washington, D.C.); a master’s degree in liberal studies with a concentration in criminal justice from Fort Hayes State University (Hays, Kan.); and a bachelor’s degree in education from Clarion University. He is also a graduate of the Secret Service Special Agent Training and Federal Law Enforcement Training Academy.
He has previously served as Robert Morris University Chief of Police, Seneca Valley School District Director of Safety & Security, and as a United States Secret Service Assistant Special Agent in Charge.
James is a Mars resident.
Crawford holds a bachelor’s degree in administration of justice from the University of Pittsburgh and Act 120 certification from Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Training Academy. He previously served as a member of the Special Deployment Division Motorcycle Unit and as a community resource officer and patrolman for Pittsburgh Police (Zone One).
He is a resident of Valencia.
The District also welcomes Mason Brunsell, IT technician, as well as new secretaries Tammy Honick at Mars Area Centennial School and Abigail Kopac and Debra Newman in the District’s special education office. New custodians include Jacob Jones, Ralph Kacy and Manny Keefer.
Several new paraprofessionals, including Melissa Gulnac at Mars Area High School; Brajeswari “Soni” Mohapatra at Mars Area Middle School; Kayla Schwadron and Kaelin Vioral at Mars Area Centennial School; Ronald Boben, Malathi Komirelli, Leisa Lewis and Ashley Tedys at Mars Area Elementary School; and, Madalyn Jamison, Gabrielle Kennihan and Lindsey Kruljac at Mars Area Primary Center, have also joined the District staff.
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Additional staffing changes include…
Megan Mezzio, previously a school counselor at Mars Area Elementary School, has moved to Mars Area Centennial School. Amanda Wilson, formerly a school counselor at Mars Area Centennial School, has moved to Mars Area Elementary School.
Maria Kuchta, formerly a special education teacher at Mars Area High School, is now an art teacher at Mars Area Centennial School and Mars Area Primary Center. Megan Buchle, previously an English teacher at Mars Area High School, is now a special education teacher at the school.
Jennifer Bradel, previously a sixth grade teacher at Mars Area Centennial School, is now a mathematics teacher at Mars Area Middle School. Sienna Balkovich, special education teacher, has moved from Mars Area Centennial School to Mars Area Middle School.
Julie Wahl, previously a reading specialist at Mars Area Elementary School, is now a learning support teacher at Mars Area Centennial School. Melissa Fox, formerly a first grade teacher at Mars Area Primary Center, is now reading specialist at Mars Area Elementary School.
Tylor Takacs, previously a third grade teacher at Mars Area Elementary School, will be teaching fourth grade at the school. Ashley Wassum, formerly a third grade teacher at Mars Area Elementary School, will be teaching second grade at the school.
Morgan Smallwood, formerly a fourth grade teacher at Mars Area Elementary School, is now a special education teacher at the school. Carly Janeda, formerly a fifth grade teacher at Mars Area Centennial School, is now a first grade teacher at Mars Area Primary Center.
Joy Villalta, paraprofessional, has moved from Mars Area Elementary School to Mars Area Middle School; Phillip Hess, paraprofessional, has moved from Mars Area Centennial School to Mars Area Middle School; and Adam Helmer, paraprofessional, has moved from Mars Area Middle School to Mars Area Centennial School.
In addition, Taylor Smith, formerly a special education secretary, will move into the position of Accounts Payable & Monthly Accounting Administrator.
For more information, call (724) 625-1518.