Mars Area School District Josh Schwoebel, Director of Communications Phone: Fax:

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1 Mars Area School District Josh Schwoebel, Director of Communications Phone: Fax: District Welcomes Numerous New Staff Members Numerous new faces will join the staff of Mars Area School District at the start of the school year. New staff members are: Melinda Badger is a Title I Mathematics Coach at Mars Area Primary Center. Badger holds a bachelor s degree in elementary education and middle school mathematics certification from Slippery Rock University and a bachelor s degree in accounting from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She previously worked as a math teacher at St. Gregory School and as manager of financial reporting at Armco Inc. She lives in Prospect with her husband, Robert, and son, Mathew. Megan Balawejder is a sixth grade teacher at Mars Area Centennial Balawejder, who holds a bachelor s degree in communication from Slippery Rock University and a master s degree in education from Carlow University, previously served as a substitute teacher and junior varsity cheerleading coach at Mars Area School District. She also worked at Wesley Spectrum Family & Child Development Center. She lives in Cranberry Township with her husband, Michael. Jennifer Bradel, sixth grade teacher at Mars Area Centennial School, hold a bachelor s degree in elementary education from Slippery Rock University. Bradel has previously served as a substitute teacher at Mars Area and Seneca Valley schools and as a learning support assistant at Freedom Area School District. She and her husband, Jay, live in Rochester. Dr. Liana Coca is a long-term substitute German teacher at Mars Area High Coca, originally from Romania, previously taught at Pittsburgh Public Schools. She is a resident of Pittsburgh.

2 Kiley Commesso, a first grade teacher at Mars Area Primary Center, holds a bachelor s degree in elementary education with a minor in childhood development from Westminster College. She previously taught kindergarten in Fredericksburg, Va., and at New Castle School District. A resident of Edinburg, Pa., she also served as a tutor for Americorp. Christopher Dalesandro, a sixth grade teacher at Mars Area Centennial School, holds a degree in elementary education with a minor in psychology from La Roche College. Dalesandro has previously worked as a special education paraprofessional at Quaker Valley and Freedom Area school districts. He and his wife, Kelli, live in Conway. Cami Danik, a first grade teacher at Mars Area Primary Center, holds a bachelor s degree in education from Slippery Rock University and a master s degree in curriculum and instruction from Gannon University. Danik previously served as a first grade teacher in Wilkinsburg School District for four years. Danik is a 1998 Mars Area graduate. Shana Dent is a long-term substitute computer applications teacher at Mars Area Middle Dent, who holds bachelor s degree in accounting from West Virginia Wesleyan College and a graduate degree from Robert Morris University, previously served as director of basketball operations at the University of Pittsburgh and as a high school basketball coach. She and her husband, Brian, are moving to Mars from Sewickley. Laurie Dufford is a guidance secretary at Mars Area High Dufford, who holds a bachelor s degree in business administration marketing from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, previously worked as a sales assistant at Klaus Equipment Co. and as a secretary/bookkeeper at Dufford Plumbing Inc. She lives in Mars with her husband, Duane, and her children, Vanessa and Jacob. Kallie Fassinger is a first grade teacher at Mars Area Primary Center. Fassinger previously taught sixth grade at Upper St. Clair School District, first and sixth grade at Peters Township School District and fifth grade at Orange County School District in Orlando, Fla. She holds a bachelor s degree in sociology from Westminster College and a master s degree in teaching from the University of Pittsburgh.

3 Eric Figgins is a technology administrative assistant in the District s Technology Department. Figgins, who holds A+ certification, previously served as a customer service representative with Guardian Protection Services; ran his own networking and PC servicing business; and held a supervisory position at Regional ISP in southeastern Missouri. Sarah Gold is a second grade teacher at Mars Area Elementary Gold, who holds a bachelor s degree in elementary education and early childhood education from Slippery Rock University, has previously served as a substitute teacher at Mars Area and Seneca Valley schools, as a dance instructor for Dance & Gym USA, and did TSS work for The Watson Institute. Lisa Haas, a third grade teacher at Mars Area Elementary School, holds a bachelor s degree in special education and elementary education from Slippery Rock University. Haas previously taught sixth grade learning support at Hempfield Area School District. She is a resident of Penn Township. Catherine Harrison is a secretary to the assistant superintendent. Harrison, a resident of Cranberry Township, holds an associate s degree in marketing from Butler County Community College as well as a bachelor s degree in communications and a master s degree in education from Robert Morris University. Matthew Karczewski, a long-term substitute English teacher at Mars Area High School, holds a bachelor s degree from the College of Wooster in Ohio. Karczewski previously worked as a substitute teacher at Beaver Falls High He is a resident of Beaver Falls. Lesley Kennedy, guidance counselor at Mars Area Centennial School, holds a bachelor s degree in English writing from the University of Pittsburgh and a master s in education from Duquesne University. Kennedy interned at Worwin School District and worked at Worth Western Human Services. Janice Kuban, a secretary at Mars Area High School, has worked as a substitute secretary at Pine-Richland School District. Kuban and her husband, Thomas, live in Pine Township with their three children, Melissa, Ashley and T.J.

4 Melissa Langer (effective Aug. 22) is a secretary in the guidance and nurse s office at Mars Area Middle Langer, a graduate of Bradford School, previously worked as a teacher assistant at My School Preschool, as a medical transcriptionist, and as a secretary with American Eagle Outfitters and HealthAmerica. She and her husband, John, live in Valencia with their three children, Adam, Chris and Sarah. Linda Maney, library secretary at Mars Area High School, previously worked as a paraeducator and administrative assistant with Dauphin County Technical Maney, who holds a bachelor s degree from Pennsylvania State University, lives in Julian, Pa., with her husband, Gary. Jennifer Renner is a fourth grade teacher at Mars Area Elementary Renner, who holds a bachelor s degree in education from Clarion University, is working toward a master s degree at McDaniel University. She previously taught fourth grade for three years in Charles County, Md., and has worked as a TSS with autistic children. She lives in Wexford with her husband, David. Michelle Schonbachler is the school nurse at Mars Area High School Schonbachler, who holds bachelor s degree in nursing from Carlow College, has worked in orthopaedic nursing for 10 years. Jamie Seka is a long-term substitute teacher in fourth grade at Mars Area Elementary Seka holds a bachelor s degree in children development and education from Washington & Jefferson College. She is a resident of Sewickley. Faith Simmons, a secretary to the assistant superintendent, holds an associate s degree in legal administration from Bradford Simmons lives in Cranberry Township with her husband, Curtis, and their three children, Taylor, Kaelyn and Curtis Jr. Dale Sleva Jr. is an assistant principal at Mars Area High Sleva previously served as an associate principal at Penn Hebron Elementary School in Penn Hills School District, where he has also worked as an assistant principal and social studies teacher. He holds a master s degree in educational administration and a post-baccalaureate degree in social studies and education from Point Park University and a bachelor s degree in history from Washington & Jefferson College.

5 He and his wife, Mindy, live in McKees Rocks with their four children. Amanda J. Stahovic (effective Aug. 22) is a guidance counselor at Mars Area Primary Center and Mars Area Elementary School Stahovic holds an associate s degree from Butler County Community College, a bachelor s degree in psychology from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and a master s degree in elementary school guidance counseling. She has previously worked at Mt. Lebanon School District. She is a resident of Cranberry Township. Amanda Trapp (effective Aug. 22) is an eighth grade science teacher at Mars Area Middle Trapp holds a bachelor s degree in environmental science and a master s degree in teaching from Chatham College. She previously served as an educational program director at Rachel Carson Homestead. Amy McCarren Van Iddekinge is a Title I reading specialist at Mars Area Primary Center. Van Iddekinge holds a bachelor s degree in fine arts from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich., and a master s degree in reading from Slippery Rock University. She previously taught second, third and fifth grades as well as seventh and eighth grade language arts over five years in Grand Rapids Public Schools. She lives in Butler with her daughter, Mckenzie Jo. Ryan Wellman, health and physical education teacher, at Mars Area Primary Center, holds an associate s and bachelor s degree in health and physical education from Butler County Community College and Slippery Rock University, respectively. Wellman previously served as a health and physical education in Gilmer County Schools in West Virginia and as a physical education teacher at Knoch Middle He lives in Rochester with his wife, Jamie.