North Hills Promotes Three Administrators to Assistant Superintendents

Three North Hills School District administrators will receive promotions effective July 1 under an organizational restructuring plan that the school board approved during its Monday legislative meeting.  

Marilyn Cain and Jeff Taylor, who are serving as directors, and Johannah Vanatta, an assistant principal at North Hills Senior High School, have been named assistant superintendents.

“Our three assistant superintendents will provide the leadership and direction necessary to ensure continued success in all areas of our academic program,” said Superintendent Patrick J. Mannarino.

Marilyn Cain, director of elementary education, has been promoted to assistant superintendent for elementary education. She will oversee the district’s kindergarten through grade 6 educational program including the supervision of four elementary principals and elementary staff induction and professional development. Cain has served in numerous teaching and administrative capacities throughout her tenure with the district.

Cain earned a doctorate in education from the University of Pittsburgh. She completed her master’s degree in education at the University of Illinois and her bachelor’s degree in elementary education at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Cain resides in McCandless and is a member of the Passavant Hospital Foundation Board of Directors.

Jeff Taylor, who is the district’s director of curriculum and assessment, was promoted to assistant superintendent for curriculum, assessment and special projects. Besdies supervising district-wide curriculum development, he will manage the administration, data collection and analysis of student achievement data such as the PSSAs, Classroom Diagnostic Tools, 4Sight and Keystone Exams. Taylor will continue to spearhead the development of the district’s Online Academy @ North Hills, which provides a local alternative to those seeking an online education. In his new position, he also will supervise the district’s special education and pupil services department.

The Pennsylvania Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development recently honored Taylor with the 2011 Supervision and Curriculum Development Award. In 2010, blendedschools.net, which recognizes educators for their demonstrated vision, initiative, and passion for online learning, gave him the Outstanding Contribution Award. In 2008, PASCD awarded him the Robert V. Flynn Memorial Distinguished Service Award, which is presented annually to a member who has demonstrated a commitment to serving and enriching the organization. 

Taylor, who recently earned a doctorate in school leadership from the University of Pittsburgh, joined the North Hills administrative staff in 2006. He earned master's degrees in multimedia technology and in school administration from Duquesne University. A graduate of Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, he has a bachelor of science in education. 

Prior to joining the North Hills staff he was a high school principal and secondary curriculum coordinator in the Charleroi School District and was a high school science teacher in the Baldwin-Whitehall and Fort Cherry school districts. Taylor has recently served as an adjunct professor for Duquesne University and Bethany College. He resides in Ross Township with his wife, Cyndi, and their daughter, Lindsay.

Johanah Vanatta, assistant principal at North Hills Senior High School, was promoted to assistant superintendent for secondary education. She will direct the district’s educational program for students in grades 7 through 12 including the supervision of secondary principals and the induction and professional development of secondary educators.

Prior to joining the North Hills staff in 2008, Vanatta was a high school history, language arts and English teacher in the Trinity, Washington and Jefferson-Morgan school districts. A graduate of West Virginia University, she has a master’s degree in secondary education and a bachelor’s degree in English. Vanatta is pursuing a doctoral degree in administrative and policy studies at the University of Pittsburgh.

She resides in Avella with her husband, Aaron, and their two daughters.

- Submitted by Tina Vojtko, on behalf of the NHSD. Have news you'd like to share with Patch readers? Email information and photos to Editor AmyJo Brown at amyjo.brown@patch.com.

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