South Fayette Township School District will radiate excellence through futurefocused, innovative, diverse, and high quality learning opportunities.
Mission
In partnership with the community, the mission of the South Fayette Township School District, a leader in innovation, is to elevate academic, artistic, and athletic excellence of the whole learner by inspiring the strength to be dynamic, ethical, and empathetic citizens who flourish in a global society.
Shared Values
Education is the shared responsibility of the student, home, school, and community.
High, clear expectations are fundamental to success.
Creativity and critical thinking are the building blocks to develop an entrepreneurial spirit.
Problem solving and design thinking are key competencies for lifelong learners.
Confidence and self-esteem are critical to academic, social, and emotional growth.
Cultural and global competencies are crucial to success.
Innovation and advancement in technology, teaching techniques, and operations are essential for successful everyday performance.
Multiple pathways and measures must be used to achieve and evaluate success.
A safe, caring, positive environment with high levels of courtesy and respect is essential to maximize learning and productivity.
Communication, collaboration, and agency are relevant workplace skills every student must develop.
South Fayette's YEAR IN REVIEW
A colleague glanced through these pages and stated, “no wonder we’re so tired.” He’s right; we’ve all given more than 100% of ourselves to the growth and success of SFTSD and our Lion Learners, but I think his comment was just an oversimplification that our commitment to being “future-focused, student-centered, and innovation-driven” is evident in all that we do. My colleagues and I often think of our own children when considering new initiatives for our Lion Learners. Of course I want the very best for my son, and each of us is deeply committed to ensuring that our Lion Learners have every opportunity for their futures.
As I turn these pages, just as when I walk through our corridors, across our campus, or into classrooms and meetings, a smile spreads across my face and my heart is full. The Lion Learners and Educators at South Fayette Township School District not only make up a pride (as a group of lions do), they are a tremendous source of pride for me, our school board, our community, and for one another.
Our district is steeped in the values of tradition, pride, and excellence. As we have grown, especially doubling in size in the past twenty years, we have adopted districtwide tenets of being future-focused, student-centered, and innovation-driven. Every decision, program, and initiative is evaluated within these lenses and driven by what is best for our Lion Learners as we empower them to become ethical and empathetic citizens in our community and society.
We kicked off the 2023-2024 school year with an Opening Ceremony based on the theme “There’s No Place like Home.” Time and again, all throughout the year, I witnessed students, faculty, and staff welcome guests and showcase our district just like they would a visitor in their own homes. We also made it a point to particularly focus on the joy in learning this year. Students who learn and teachers who teach in joy-filled schools look forward to each day and the possibilities those days present. Where there is joy, there is a sense of belonging. At South Fayette, we want our students, faculty, and staff to know and feel that they are appreciated and that they each contribute a unique and integral element to the community as a whole. At South Fayette, joy and excellence are interconnected.
On multiple occasions this past year, our district was held up as a model or standard for others to emulate. Leaders from schools across our state and across the country visited for observation and discussion, and we gladly shared how we have transformed ourselves, and how we continue to strive for academic excellence for each and every Lion Learner. While we’re not following a yellow brick road, we are laying the paths to our students’ futures brick by brick with each new idea, partnership, and initiative. We’re not seeking to reach the Emerald City but to continue to discover the very best for our own Green and White. We look forward to seeing where the journey takes us, and we invite you to come along.
Dr. Miller attends many SFTSD events with her husband and son.
Celebrating Women in Science
Senior Rishika Somireddy, sophomore Rashmita Chekka, and junior Ryan Baldigowski were each recognized by The Society of Women Engineers - Certificate of Merit Program. Additionally junior Snigdha Ramavathu (second from right) was selected for the Rachel Carson Healthy Planet Award.
Lion LEADERS
Students throughout the district gave of themselves and met impressive levels of achievement throughout 2023-24.
National Merit
Seniors Rishika Somireddy, Preetam Jukalkar, and Varun Shiralkar were named Semifinalists in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Competition (NMSC®), representing less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors for their outstanding performance on the 2022 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®).
COCA-COLA SCHOLAR
Senior Alekhya Buragadda was named one of the 2024 Coca-Cola Scholars and recipient of a $20,000 scholarship.
According to the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, the 150 recipients this year, selected from an initial pool of 103,800+ applications from across the country, “not only exemplify superior leadership, service, and academics, they are change agents, positively affecting others in their communities.”
Dreams Taking Flight
Alekhya is an inspiration to our Lion Learners in academics and service as well as being humble, friendly, and kind.”
Dr. Michelle Miller, Superintendent of Schools
Senior Gouri Prasanth was the first student across all schools participating in the Fly Like a Girl (FLAG) Drone Academy to pass the FAA Remote Pilot test to become a certified drone pilot.
Leader and Dreamer
It was a busy junior year for Nandana Manoj Menon as she worked with a local company to develop her idea for an app to support autistic children, participated in the 2024 Disney Dreamers Academy, and learned that she’d be spending her summer interning at the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium as one of the 2024 Bank of America Student Leaders.
Named CGI IT Girls
In the first week of June 2024, senior Gouri Prasanth and junior Nandana Menon, both SF Girls STEAM members, learned that they’d won the 2024 CGI IT Girl Challenge with their app, TABU, Toward a Better U, which assists those struggling with substance abuse addiction. For their efforts, the pair earned a $20,000 scholarship to be shared evenly between them.
Junior Achievement
Three SF students were chosen as part of the 2024 class of Junior Achievement's 18 Under
Eighteen.
Senior Alekhya Buragadda is a published researcher and author. She started a nonprofit to develop educational opportunities for women globally and is dedicated to destigmatizing mental health among children and teens. Prerna Chakkingal, also a senior, is an accomplished public speaker on societal issues and giving voice to underrepresented populations. She delivered one of the Top 100 Most Popular TEDx Talks in 2022 and attended the Disney Dreamers Academy. Sixth-grader Daniella Neve uses TikTok to spread positivity and encourages organ donation — a quest that began with using the platform to find a kidney donor for her father.
Daniella, Alekhya, Prerna
Gouri with Lion Educator Mr. Jim Hausman
2023 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
2023 was the second induction ceremony for the Hall of Fame which recognizes and honors alumni who have had successes at South Fayette and beyond in the areas of the Arts, Academics, and Athletics. Inductees were:
Biographies for each inductee are available at www.southfayette.org/2023Inductees.aspx
State & National Champs
Club participation and competition offer SF students impressive skill- and leadershipbuilding opportunities. The following are state-level awards unless otherwise noted.
FBLA
Twisha Trivedi, 1st in Public Speaking Pavithra Dantu, 3rd in Human Resource Management
Srishti Swaminathan, 5th in Business Communication
HOSA
Sri Koripi, Laasya Pedapati, Pranamya Rangaraju, and Anjali Srinivasan, 1st in Mental Health Promotion in PA and 5th at National
Pavithra Dantu, 2nd in Medical Spelling in PA and 13th at National Dharini Maruthu, 2nd in Behavioral Health
Vidhisha Chahande, 3rd in Prepared Speaking and was awarded a $2,000 Penn HOSA Foundation Scholarship SFHS’s HOSA chapter was recognized with the highest fundraising award for their efforts in raising money for Be the Match National Marrow Donor Program.
TSA
Srishti Swaminathan, 1st in Essays on Technology, 2nd in Prepared Presentation
Caroline Praveen and Yaashna Praveenkumar, 1st in Forensic Science in PA and 6th at National
Caroline Praveen and Pranamya Rangaraju, 2nd in Debating Technological Issues
Anush Desai, Harin Godugu, and Vikesh Venkatesh, 2nd in On Demand Video
Pranita Chakkingal, Rashmita Chekka, Nandana Menon, Yaashna Praveenkumar, and Ria Sijo, 3rd in Audio Podcasting in PA and 9th at National
Nehanth Dirisala and Sarwani Potharlanka, 3rd in Webmaster
Tvesha Bhatt, 3rd in Future Technology & Engineering Teacher
Nandana Menon, 2nd in Promotional Design at National and 4th in Photographic Technology at National
Tvesha Bhatt and Nandana Menon, 6th in Software Development at National
Brett Brumbaugh ‘15
Denise Jones ‘09
Ray “Smoke” Laval ‘73
Susan Reid ‘76
C. Thomas Keil Jr. ‘59
Justin Watson ‘14
Inductees and their families being recognized on the field at the home football game the day after the induction ceremony.
Team Visionaries
As part of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) Student Visionaries Program, junior Camryn Hondru was motivated to make a difference for those impacted by blood cancer, but particularly for her classmate and family friend, SF senior, Tyler Schepis
“This is South Fayette’s third year participating in the LLS Visionaries Program and my second year on the team,” said Camryn. “I was so motivated to raise money while I watched [Tyler] struggle through chemo because there wasn’t anything I could fully do to make him feel better.”
Team Cancer Conquerors, which Camryn co-led, raised approximately $50,000 during the seven week period allotted by the program, earning a Hero Award from LLS. Additionally, as a team leader, Camryn applied for and earned a Mission Award with an essay focused on research for blood cancers.
The district
thanks Cooper Bruce '24 for serving as our Lion throughout 2022-23 and 2023-24.
He was truly king of the mascot jungle.
I like to be in charge and be a leader. And I thought having Tyler lead with me would be good
Challenge Program
In SF’s first year partnering with The Challenge Program, two students rose to top honors. Sophomore Dan Mano was one of three state-wide finalists for Student of the Year. In his essay, he reflected on how the Challenge Program and SF’s assigned business partner through the program, PCG Capital, encouraged him to be more of a risk-taker both academically and personally. Since becoming involved with the program in the fall of 2023, he sought opportunities to go above and beyond the already high standards he set for himself.
Additionally, senior Alekhya Buragadda won The Challenge Program Community Service Award for her nonprofit, Women Welfare, which provides sanitary, educational, and food resources for young women in India and around the world.
Three Rivers Region Cool School Polar Plunge
Twenty-three South Fayette students, teachers, and administrators participated in the 2023-2024 Three Rivers Region Cool School Polar Plunge and raised $1,200 to benefit the athletes of Special Olympics Pennsylvania.
Civic Engagement
The Pennsylvania departments of State and Education announced in May that SFHS won the Governor’s Civic Engagement Award (GCEA) for the 2023-24 school year and was one of 18 schools winning a Silver Level Award for registering at least 65 percent of eligible students to vote. Additionally, SF junior Alexa Ankrum, won a Student Poll Worker Award.
Academics
The AP® School Honor Roll recognized SFHS with a Silver distinction reflecting a commitment to increasing collegegoing culture, providing opportunities for students to earn college credit, and maximizing college readiness.
DURING THE 2022-23 ACADEMIC YEAR
SOUTH FAYETTE HIGH SCHOOL OFFERED
17 ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES
Nearly 58% of the graduating seniors last year took at least one AP exam during high school, 49% scored a three or higher on at least one AP exam, and 8% took five or more AP exams during their high school career.
Media Arts
Students studying media arts at SFHS were the big winners at the Digital Media Arts Consortium (DMAC) Awards Ceremony at Robert Morris University in April, with eight awards; more than any other single school. They earned five Best in Category awards, two Awards of Excellence, and senior Emilia Brewer was honored with the DMAC Founders Award.
Student Government
At the Pennsylvania Association of Student Councils (PASC) State Leadership Conference in September 2023, SF’s Student Government earned the PASC Distinguished Keystone Council Award and students Alycia Stier, Ava Cardone, Paige Westbrook, Tessa Schwarzmiller, and Carly Garrubba were named PASC Distinguished Student Leaders. The SFHS Student Government was also recognized as a 2024 National Gold Council of Excellence by the National Association of Student Councils (NASC) for the sixth consecutive year.
Food Services
The district was pleased to congratulate the Director of Food Services, Tricia Wood, and team for receiving the 2024 Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials (PASBO) Award of Excellence in School Food Service Operations. This award is a direct demonstration of SFTSD’s excellence in food service operations including meals served, health inspections, staff training, and more.
Music
The district was honored to receive, for the second year in a row, the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education.
Marching Band
The Little Green Machine marching band was declared the recipient of The Grand Marshall Award for best overall entry in Pittsburgh's St. Patrick's Day Parade. This is the first time the LGM has won the top award in the parade. Last year, the LGM earned The County Executive's Award for Best School Band from Allegheny County.
Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA)
Congratulations are extended district-wide for outstanding appearances at PMEA festivals throughout 2023-24! In chorus, SF saw four students attend districts and three at regions where sophomore Bailey Cunningham qualified by audition for PMEA All-State Chorus!
Both band and orchestra saw participation in district, regional, and honors festivals, as well as representation at elementary and junior high festivals this year. Two bass players, CJ Inkenhaus and Ayaan Soni, performed at the PMEA All-State concert.
Additionally, Ms. Christine Elek was honored for 25 years as a music educator at the PMEA All-State Festival and Convention.
Band Director Marches in Renowned Parade
South Fayette’s Band Director, Ms. Eryn Carranza, playing the sousaphone, was selected to join the 400-member Band Directors Marching Band for the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade which performed before a crowd of 3.5 million in person and over 28 million viewers on TV.
One of the biggest things I want my students to see is that you can continue to make music after school – the learning doesn’t stop. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I’m sharing it with the kids I teach every single day.”
Eryn Carranza
The high school cast, crew, and pit orchestra of “Beauty and the Beast” brought this Disney classic to life for young and old with performances that were un-Belle-lieveable.
The Middle School performed “Nickelodeon’s The SpongeBob Musical Youth Edition” and the hard work and dedication of the cast and crew was an inspiration across land and sea.
Students in the Intermediate School have two chances for onstage musical performances. The 4th grade Performing Arts Club delighted their audience with “The Principal and the Pea” and a determined cast and crew of 5th graders unselfish-ly rehearsed “Rainbow Fish” this year.
LANGUAGES SPOKEN 28
ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS RANKED SFTSD RANKED SFTSD 8 4 852 IN NATION 23 IN STATE IN PGH METRO IN REGION 7 IN STATE
ETHNICITY
67% White/Not Hispanic
23% Asian
5% Multi-Racial
2% Black or African American
2% Hispanic
<1% American Indian/Alaskan Native
<1% Native Hawaiian/ Other Pacific Islander
*Includes students enrolled in in-house Cyber Academy and outside placements.
NAMED SOUTH FAYETTE TWP. DISTRICT OF THE DECADE 2011-2021
12% SPECIAL EDUCATION 16% LOW-INCOME STUDENTS
RANKED SFHS 2 IN
REGION
PERCENT PROFICIENT VS. STATE*
79.2% SCORED 3 OR HIGHER ON 696 AP EXAMS
SOUTH FAYETTE IS
InnovationDriven
We talk about being future-focused, student-centered, and innovation-driven. But if we’re really going to be innovative, we need to look beyond the things we typically see in K-12 schools. Sometimes, that means turning to higher ed. Sometimes, it means partnering with businesses. But more than anything, it means looking outside and gaining a new perspective.”
Dr. Michelle Miller, District Superintendent
Excerpt from “Growing produce – and partnerships – in the South Fayette Township School District” at Kidsburgh.com
FREIGHT FARM & SMARTFLOWER
Installed in the spring of 2023, the now solarpowered shipping container located behind the high school holds the equivalent of two-anda-half acres of farmland, making it capable of growing up to six tons of produce annually.
It is operated primarily by SF’s Life Skills students who are planting, harvesting, and selling lettuce, kale, radishes, beets, basil, and other crops which are shared with the Culinary Arts program at Parkway West CTC for use in their classes, on-site restaurant, and food store. The Freight Farm is powered by the Smartflower, added in November 2023, which, when fully open, stands 17-feet tall and 17-feet wide. It is a revolutionary solar energy system designed to follow the path of the sun throughout the day. Energy and crop analysis from the Smartflower and Freight Farm are also incorporated into data science projects and lessons on sustainable energy for students in Kindergarten through 12th grade at South Fayette.
FREIGHT TO PLATE TRAILER
Made possible through a Grable Foundation-funded Moonshot Grant earned in late 2023, the district chose to challenge traditional notions of classroom-based learning and conventional career exploration by integrating agriculture with culinary arts and cultural education in a new Freight to Plate program involving a 16’ food trailer complete with commercial-grade kitchen that will be used for demonstrations and hands-on interaction. The mobility of the Freight to Plate trailer allows for a broader range of instruction and participation, and the opportunities for career and cultural discussion and exploration are endless. In addition to being a mobile agricultural hub, plans for the Freight to Plate trailer include that it double as a video production studio allowing for sessions within the trailer to be aired live or recorded and rebroadcast.
Fly Like a Girl (FLAG)
South Fayette is one of the founding schools of the Fly Like a Girl (FLAG) Drone Academy and has hosted much of the training for the past two spring sessions. With women currently making up only 8% of the aviation industry workforce, the program is designed to encourage female students to consider careers involving piloting drones, a job that is expected to grow more than 50% over the next five years. After program completion, the participants are qualified to take the FAA test to become licensed to fly drones. This marketable skill crosses all sectors and can prepare them for part-time work while they are still in school as well as for any future they seek. The FLAG Drone Academy is funded by a Grable Foundation Moonshot Grant.
South Fayette was the first school to have a young woman successfully earn an FAA drone pilot license.
PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING
CAVERN
SF IS ONE OF ONLY 11
As a proud member of Digital Promise's League of Innovative Schools, districts nationwide to launch a high school cybersecurity program
The Cybersecurity educational pathway began with the 2023-24 school year, and provides students with the opportunity to graduate with the skills and certifications needed to land indemand, high-paying jobs in the field right out of high school. According to Cybersecurity Ventures, the number of unfilled cybersecurity jobs will reach 3.5 million over the next two years, yet CyberSupply.org says only 3.6% of U.S. Public High School students have access to cybersecurity courses. SF’s program includes a valuable combination of coursework, competition, networking, internships, and resume development.
Lion Learners at the secondary level have the opportunity to apply their skills acquired through the district’s acclaimed K-8 computer science pathway to problem-based learning in which they do not just learn concepts and principles; they put them into practice. Partnerships with companies like All-Clad, Calgon Carbon, Covestro, Hennecke, and PPG Global include real-world challenges which South Fayette students tackle and are rewarded by seeing their work implemented and utilized in professional capacities. Thanks to this initiative, the South Fayette Township School District was one of only six school districts nationwide to be recognized as a 2023 Spring “Lighthouse System” by AASA, The School Superintendents Association, celebrating SF as a model of powerful and positive change in public education. SF’s distinction came in the area of “future-ready learners.”
Created by Carnegie Mellon University’s Entertainment Technology Center (ETC), the CAVERN’s 270-degree circular screen and projector system allows multi-player participation within immersive virtual spaces. At South Fayette, the CAVERN will enhance students’ collaboration, creativity, and communication expertise. In the first course offering, “Building Virtual Worlds,” students will learn to design immersive experiences and games that foster empathy, enhance storytelling, and open new pathways in digital media careers. They will collaborate with ETC experts and be empowered to become pioneers in shaping the future of interactive entertainment, virtual reality, and augmented reality. By combining technical proficiency with creative vision, SF grads with CAVERN experience will be especially valuable in fields with rapidly evolving new technologies. SF’s CAVERN was funded by a Grable Foundation Tugboat Grant.
YEAR IN REVIEW 2023-24
Lacrosse
Esports
In their first official season, the Varsity Rocket League Team advanced to the Grand Final round of the Fall PIEA State Championships! Varsity Valorant was victorious up to the state semi-finals. The spring season saw continued achievement as both the High School Super Smash Bros. and Overwatch teams won their matches and advanced to the second round of the PIEA Esports Playoffs. Seniors Luke MacIntosh players to receive collegiate Esports offers and scholarships.
Girls Basketball
As the sixth-seeded team heading into the playoffs after an 18-8 season, a young Lady Lions team delivered an impressive 3-peat victory in the WPIAL 5A Championship with a final score of 70-63. Their coach, Bryan Bennett, was named WPIAL Class 5A Coach of the Year by Trib HSSN.
The girls team earned their first win in the WPIAL playoffs in program history ultimately advancing to the semifinals. As section champions, the boys team made it to both the WPIAL Championship game and the state semifinals where the 8x-WPIALchampion Mars Planets refused to be beaten.
Soccer
In back-to-back games, the girls won their first-ever WPIAL Class 3A soccer championship in overtime with a 1-0 finale for an overall 15-4-2 season, and the boys wrapped a 14-4-3 season by scoring a pair of goals in the opening minutes of the Class 3A WPIAL title contest, finishing with a 4-2 victory. The boys hold the WPIAL record with 19 titles, eight ahead of the nearest competitor.
Track and Field
The girls team went 6-0, winning their 4th straight WPIAL section championship. Olivia Renk was the AAA WPIAL Champion in both the 100- and 200-meter dashes and finished 7th in the state in the 100. Lions took 17 other top-8 podium finishes at WPIALs.
Indoor Track
Nine athletes, Evabella Cox, Tim Danziger, Evan Dawson, Michael Gimigliano, Alaa-Eddine Guetari, Griffin Martin, Olivia Renk, Delaney Schumaker, and Mary Claire Walsh qualified to compete at the New Balance Indoor Track & Field National Championships.
Boys Volleyball
The boys varsity team earned their second straight section championship in only the fourth season of the program.
NFL
SF Alumnus Justin Watson earned his third Super Bowl ring in February 2024. A wide-receiver, his first win was in 2021 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and he has won the past two years with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Swimming
At the WPIAL Championships, Zoe Poe took 2nd in the 500 yard freestyle and 4th in the 200 yard freestyle, and Maddie Berg placed 8th in the 500 yard freestyle. At states, Zoe earned 6th and 13th in those same events, respectively.
Ice Hockey
The Varsity team clinched the section title and the JV team won the PIHL JV Hockey Championships in a shootout.
Wrestling
Five wrestlers, Jonny Baiano, Brock Dennison, Luke Dunlap, Peter Leventis, and Talan Mizenko advanced to the WPIAL Individual Wrestling Championships and
Competitive Cheer
After finishing 4th at the PIAA Championship, the Competitive Cheer Team traveled to Florida for the UCA National HS Cheer Championship where their initial results allowed them to skip ahead to the finals, and they brought home a trophy placing them 24th in the nation!
Lion Educators
Lead by Example
South Fayette’s Lion Educators earned recognition in their field throughout 2023-24. Ms. Bianco, Ms. Clonan, Ms. Endy, and Ms. Hackworth became newly certified in 2023 by the National Board of Certified Teachers. Mr. McArdle and Ms. Rudy had their certifications renewed.
Dr. Herring, Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, was part of the Spring 2024 class of ChangeMakers as named by the Pittsburgh Chapter of Multiplying Good from which he also received the Jefferson Award. In addition, he was selected by his alma mater, Edinboro University, as one of their Distinguished Alumni for 2024.
Associate Principal of the Middle School, Dr. Maurer, was one of 15 regional administrators to be awarded the 2024 Pittsburgh Penguins MVP (Most Valuable Principal) honor.
Three educators, Mrs. Lockette (Sr. Fellow), Dr. Mital (Fellow), and Ms. Everhart (Fellow), were selected to the esteemed Teach Plus Fellowship Program for the 2023-24 academic year.
Our ES STEAM teacher successfully defended her dissertation, earning her Doctorate of STEM Education from the University of Massachusetts and becoming Dr. Unger!
NAT'L BOARD CERTIFICATIONS 176
25
MASTER'S DEGREES
Mr. Reasey joins an exclusive group of educators in the Commonwealth who have passed the Pennsylvania 7-12 Computer Science (CS) certification exam. 5
196 BELONG TO PROFESSIONAL EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS OR ORGANIZATIONS SPONSORED OR COACHED
100 STUDENT ACTIVITIES OR ATHLETIC TEAMS REPRESENT COMMITTEES 127 OR LEAD COLLEAGUES IN DISTRICT INITIATIVES
Everhart, Lockette, Mital
Dr. Herring, Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Giving Back in Ways Both
Big and Small
Mini-THON
Students, faculty, and staff at South Fayette look for ways to give to the surrounding community throughout the year, and one of their largest contributions starts with “mini.”
Modeled after the annual 46-hour dance marathon, THON, at Penn State University, SF hosts an annual Mini-THON to raise money for in the fight against pediatric cancer.
Now in its 12th year, the district has raised approximately $1.8 million for Four Diamonds, an organization that covers the cost of childhood cancer treatments and other emergency expenses that insurance or other means do not cover.
Mini-THON empowers K-12 students to serve as leaders and volunteer throughout the year, capping off their efforts with a grand celebration. This year, SF’s big reveal took place after 12 hours of dancing, games, and celebrating at approximately 5:45 am on Saturday, April 27, 2024, and resulted in a new fundraising record of $338,205.15! The reveal was incredibly emotional as many students, faculty, and staff began to cry with the realization that they had succeeded in surpassing the prior year’s total, which was a national record, of $336,140.10.
What sets South Fayette apart from the other 200 schools that participate in Mini-THON, besides the hundreds of thousands of dollars students raise, is how it is embedded in the high school’s
Families in Need
The spirit of giving is always especially strong in South Fayette during the holiday season. With the annual StuffA-Bus Toy Drive, 3,892 toys, requiring two truckloads, were donated to the Washington County Toys for Tots.
Also, as a district, we collected and distributed approximately $16,750 in gift cards to 73 local families in need of support during the holidays, including 153 children. Additionally, the students and teachers of the Reading Buddies program for Kindergarten and fifth grade worked to collect cold weather gear resulting in a donation of 924 hats and gloves to the Harvest Street Mission.
curriculum. This most ambitious and anticipated fundraising event of the year is the capstone of Mr. Brandon Flannery’s Honors Management and Marketing Applications course. In this secondsemester, senior-level course, students rely on their critical understanding of event management, promotion, ticketing, corporate sponsorship, and fundraising to plan, manage, and market Mini-THON. This year’s Mini-THON chairs were Paige Westbrook, Julianna Rossi, Marissa Stock, and Tim Danziger. For the first time in 2023-24, due to growing popularity and successful outcomes, a second section was added to the course taught by Mr. Gary Smith. Students were so successful in their social media efforts that they had a video go viral on Tik Tok with over 8 million views and 1 million likes!
Soles4Souls Shoe Drive
Each year the seventh grade class dedicates their focus to a Soles4Souls shoe drive, and 2023-24 succeeded in collecting 395 pairs and 8 single shoes! Their donations help families affected by poverty and disasters. Also, repurposing these shoes diverts nearly 500 pounds from local landfills!
These are only a few highlights of the many efforts of SF’s clubs, organizations, and individual efforts to assist those in need. The district thanks its faculty, staff, families, students, and organizations for their continued generosity in helping others.
Collaborative Efforts: South Fayette Students ‘ABLE’ to Work in Global Research Project
Partnering with students around the world, South Fayette middle schoolers are some of the youngest participants in Pepperdine University’s Project ABLE (AssetBased Learning Environments).
South Fayette's Schepis Keeps the Hope to Beat Stage III Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Steeling the Spotlight: Senior Tyler Schepis was invited to speak at the Coaches vs. Cancer Tipoff Reception at PNC Park.
Personalized Learning: eSN Innovation Roundtable
Director of Innovation and Strategic Partnerships Dr. Matt Callison was invited to participate in an Innovation Roundtable with other school leaders to discuss their experiences with personalized learning, where they’ve found success, and what they think it will look like in the future.
In
LIONS IN THE LIMELIGHT
‘Shape the World’: Western Pennsylvania Students Participate in Eradicate Hate Summit
South Fayette participated with students from 12 other districts in the third annual Eradicate Hate Summit. Multiple students and leaders in SF’s SHOUT organization were quoted in this article.
Parents As Allies
A look at how South Fayette’s PAA team tackled the puzzle of familyschool engagement. Dedicated leaders brought teachers and parents together and connected the school community through communication, volunteering, and socializing.
How 4 Pittsburgh-area Districts Are Upgrading Career Curriculum
Superintendent Dr. Miller explains how SF partnered with three local districts to introduce the World of Work framework to elementary and middle school curriculum to help students discover their interests and explore professions in the western PA region.
South Fayette Teacher Wins National Award for Work on Student Leadership Development
Register to Vote
Close Election, 18-YearOlds in Pennsylvania Could Make the Difference But Most Don’t
KDKA’s Jon Delano interviewed Senior Paige Westbrook about the successful student-run voter registration drives at SF.
HS teacher, Dr. Felix J. Yerace, spoke on WESA FM’s Morning Edition after earning the 2023 National Earl Reum Award for his work in promoting student leadership development at the local, state and national levels.
Show
of
Sportsmanship
Allows South Fayette’s Mike Plasko, West Allegheny’s Brandon Bell to Reach 1,000 Points Within Seconds of Each Other
Just seconds after SF senior Mike Plasko scored his 1,000th career point, the entire Lions boys basketball team ensured that a player on the opposing team had the opportunity to score his 1,000th point in the final game of his high school basketball career.
A New Initiative Creates a 'Supporting' Space for Western Pa.'s Teachers of Color
After the game, I thanked South Fayette’s coach and players because they didn’t have to do that. It was just awesome to be a part of something like that. I won’t forget this for a long while.”
Elementary assistant principal Pharlan Ives (3rd from right) and teacher Payal Mital (2nd from left) are leaders in developing a network for educators of color for professional development, mentorship, and culturally-centered connection. Teaching is My Favorite Color, funded and supported by Digital Promise, provides a safe space to voice concerns and to feel supported while bolstering the number of teachers of color entering and staying in the field.
10.27 Healing Partnership Connects With South Fayette High School Students
Relatives of Rose Mallinger, the oldest victim in the Tree of Life shooting, at 97 years old, who represent the 10.27 Healing Partnership, joined with students at SF to discuss countering hate with unity and understanding.
KD Kids Club: Carter Childs
Not all of us get to see what's below the surface, but an SF seventh grader is already a pro at scuba diving. KDKA's Boaz Frankel joined him at the pool in this edition of KD Kids Club on Talk Pittsburgh.
Government Officials
In November, PA Senator Devlin Robinson hosted his first “Senator For A Day” event with eight SF freshmen and more than 50 students and teachers from seven regional districts. Participants were led through an explanation of the legislative process then broke into committees to discuss eight mock Senate bills on which they debated, amended, and voted.
“It was so encouraging to see how engaged they all were, and how they jumped right into the process,” said Senator Robinson via social media.
Senator Robinson returned in January to support PA Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis for a roundtable discussion at SFHS on the topic of mental health for students along with PA Department of Education Deputy Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education Dr. Carrie Rowe, PA Representative Jason Ortitay and students and staff from SFTSD. With $90 million in student mental health grants available to schools across PA, Lt. Governor Davis was letting students know that the elected officials were fighting for them. During the session, South Fayette was referred to as a model district for others to follow.
It was also an honor in March to have PA Congressman Chris Deluzio join ninth graders in honors civics for an open and engaging discussion about our government. Learning from an active participant brought the classes’ understanding to another level.
Conference Attendees
The Pittsburgh Technology Council hosted its largest Three Rivers Educational Technology Conference (TRETC) to date in January 2024 at SFHS with attendees
representing 93 school districts, private schools, colleges, and universities as well as 33 sponsors and exhibitors. The event included 60+ sessions on cybersecurity education, inclusion and accessibility, integration of artificial intelligence, robotics, World of Work, and more. Faculty and staff from South Fayette were presenters at eight sessions and a few students were also involved. Additionally, the South Fayette Esports Team hosted its first at-home tournament during the event, finishing second.
In March, our SFHS Student Government hosted approximately 450 students and advisors from 30 other schools for the Pennsylvania Association of Student Councils (PASC) Region B Conference which included awards, a keynote speaker, and 25 student-led workshops.
Thanks to SFTSD’s Cybersecurity Pathway, March also brought the unique opportunity to host Pittsburgh K-12 Cybersecurity Roundtable. Representatives from fifteen regional districts and businesses gathered to discuss and share educational trends and workforce development.
SFHS’s fourth annual Uncommon Conference followed in April welcoming a standing-room only crowd from 14 schools across Allegheny and neighboring counties. Organized by the students in South Fayette’s SHOUT (Social Handprints Overcoming Unjust Treatment) organization, the Uncommon Conference brings students together to celebrate their differences and, in doing so, recognize just how much they have in common. The theme for 2024 was “Each of us needs all of us to become the best of us.”
SF Welcomes...
SFTSD was pleased to welcome visitors from many schools and businesses across our region and the country throughout 2023-2024. In addition to numerous conference and event attendees, additional esteemed guests have represented:
Kansas City Public Schools Jackson County, MO
New Hope-Solebury School District Bucks County, PA
Oneida City School District Madison County, NY
Plum Area School District Allegheny County, PA
Quakertown Community School District
Bucks County, PA
River Valley School District Indiana County, PA
Yellow Springs Schools Greene County, OH
Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA
Robert Morris University Moon Township, PA
Slippery Rock University Slippery Rock, PA
Attack Theatre Pittsburgh, PA
Charles E. Kaufman Foundation Pittsburgh, PA
Digital Promise Center for Inclusive Innovation Washington, DC
Getting Smart Collective Tacoma, WA
SchoolJoy Fremont, CA
The Teaching Channel Eagan, MN
Grants Earned by SFTSD in 2023-24
Moonshot Grant, $70,000 Freight to Plate program
Moonshot Grant joint recipient for continued funding, $40,000*
Fly Like a Girl (FLAG) Drone Academy
Grable Foundation
Tugboat Grant, $25,000
CAVERN Extended Reality Educational Experience
Pennsylvania Department of Education Inclusion Grant
$10,000 annually (3 years)
Disability-Inclusive K-12 Curriculum
Learning Landscapes Challenge Phase I, $5,000
Rethinking Learning/ The Hope Accelerator
Grable Foundation
Little Bet Grant, $3,000 Science of Hope
Individual Lion Educators applied for and received more than $23,000 in grants and awards this year for classroom resources and supplies and educational experiences.
*in addition to the $70,000 initial Moonshot Grant received in 2022-23 to establish the FLAG program
Partnerships
Through a partnership with the Human-Computer Interaction Institute at Carnegie Mellon University, SFTSD has received support for district initiatives. For the past two years, HCII has involved SFHS students in projects and workshops at no charge that traditionally cost $85,000 annually. This year a partnership was established with the National Aviary allowing 300+ third-grade STEAM students to engage in design and engineering work for real-world clients. Under the guidance of the Curator of Animal Husbandry & Wellness, students created bird enrichment for six specific feathered clients.
Bridge to the Future: Educator Field Trips
Bridge to the Future provides educators and education leaders access to companies developing leading-edge technologies so that they can better understand the rapidly changing world of work. Corporate field trips, or site visits, typically include a tour of the workspace, a demo of some kind, and a conversation with employees about their career journeys and the skills they look for in potential employees. This year, SFTSD teachers visited Duolingo, HEBI Robotics, Human Engineering Research Laboratory, and Optimus Technologies.
SPEAKER SERIES 2023-2024
SFTSD aims to educate and broaden the horizons of students both in and out of the classroom. Through the free annual Speaker Series, community members are also invited to learn more about a variety of diverse and relevant topics.
Sean Gibson
Josh Gibson Foundation President
Vanessa Herring
TV Host
Noelle Conover
Matt’s Maker Space Founder
Bill Isler
The Fred Rogers Company CEO
Joseph Yun
Artificial Intelligence Architect
Jess & Jorgen Pedersen
Robotics & Tech Investors
Zach Betz
Neurodiversity Advocate
World of Work Pittsburgh
One of four founding districts to bring the World of Work framework to the Pittsburgh region, SFTSD is helping to build a careerfocused curriculum that introduces learners in grades K-8 to a variety of professions and skill sets, some requiring postsecondary degrees and others that do not.
Students utilize the RIASEC language (an acronym for personality types and career preferences: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional) to learn about themselves, their strengths, and interests. Then, through inquiry and play-based learning, they are exposed to professions that correspond with what they’ve discovered about themselves. This knowledge will continue to build so that instead of just beginning their career exploration in high school, by ninth grade, they will already be much more informed about what courses they might want to take and what professions they may want to consider after graduation. The World of Work curriculum includes a library of recorded interviews with a professional from each preidentified career path so learners may explore a career with information directly from the source at any time.
The Intermediate School kicked off the World of Work framework in 2023-24 with a Celebration featuring the high school cheerleaders, dance team, and marching band.
Dr. Michelle Miller Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Rachel Andler Director of Student Support Services
Robert Butts
High School Assistant Principal
Dr. Matt Callison Director of Innovation and Strategic Partnerships
Dr. Erin Crimone Middle School Principal
Dr. Natasha Dirda High School Principal
Jennifer Donovan Director of Communications
Tyler Geist Elementary School Principal
School Board
2023-24
Thomas Iagnemma President
Teresa Burroughs Vice President
Rebecca Bruce
Esther Cardillo
Leonard Fornella
William Gray
Jennifer Iriti
Prajakta Patankar
Joseph Welch
Cynthia Geisler Board Secretary
Dr. Kristin Deichler Assistant Superintendent
Dr. Chuck Herring Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Pharlan Ives
Elementary School Assistant Principal
Kristen Johnson
Intermediate School Assistant Principal
Tom Kaminski
Intermediate School Principal World of Work Coordinator
Mark Keener
Director of Athletics
Dr. Kevin Maurer
Middle School Associate Principal Esports Program Director
Brandon Soubie Director of Transportation
Steve Timmins Facilities Director
Brian Tony Director of Finance & Human Resources
Cristine Wagner-Deitch Director of Curriculum
Rob Warfield Director of Technology
Patricia Wood Director of Food & Nutritional Services
New Faces in Lion Leadership
The district is excited to welcome four new members to the administrative team this year. Leading the high school as Principal since the start of the new year is Dr. Natasha Dirda and joining her just prior to graduation is Mr. Thomas J. “T.J.” Salopek as Assistant Principal.
Mr. Ryan Neely and Ms. Nicolle Bazant Pleil became part of district administration during the summer of 2024 as Director of Finance and Director of Food Services, respectively. These Lions are proving themselves to be wonderful additions to South Fayette leadership.
Dr. Natasha Dirda High School Principal
Mr. Thomas J. “T.J.” Salopek High School Assistant Principal
Ryan Neely Director of Finance
Mr.
Ms. Nicolle Bazant Pleil Director of Food Services
