North Allegheny held its first school board meeting after a short summer break on Aug. 6, marking the occasion with two new hires, including a new assistant principal for Franklin Elementary School.

Audra Meehan joins Franklin, one of North Allegheny’s seven elementary schools, replacing Tommie Guess, who now is the new principal at Peebles Elementary School. Susie Bjalobok retired in June as principal of Peebles after 25 years at North Allegheny.

Meehan comes to the district from the Franklin Regional School District, where she most recently served as the multitiered systems of support coordinator since 2022, with a specialized focus on elementary education. Meehan, who lives in Murrysville with her husband and two sons and daughter, also was a kindergarten teacher for 10 years, according to an Aug. 6 an email from the North Allegheny School District.

Meehan was hired at a prorated salary of $90,000, according to the Aug. 6 school board agenda.

The board also approved the hiring of Allison Frank as coordinator of special education and gifted education, with a prorated annual salary of $102,500.

Frank also was employed at Franklin Regional School District, where she worked as a multitiered systems of support coordinator for the Franklin Regional Primary School, according to Franklin Regional’s website. She also spent six years as a learning support teacher, supporting students from kindergarten to fifth grade, according to anAug. 7 announcement by North Allegheny.

She is replacing Cynthia McKenzie, who retired earlier this year after seven years with North Allegheny. Patricia Tkacik and Stephanie Svilar also are coordinators of special education and gifted education in the district.

Frank, who attended the Seneca Valley School District, said she always admired North Allegheny.

“Thank you for trusting in me and giving me this opportunity,” said Frank, who lives in Zelienople with her husband. “It is an absolute honor to get to know the students, staff and community.”

Dr. Brendan Hyland, superintendent of schools for North Allegheny, said the superintendent at Franklin Regional commented on the work of Meehan and Frank.

“He indicated to me, ‘You are lucky. You have two rock stars.’ And the interview process made that very clear,” Hyland said.

Other new positions include Olivia Van der Zee as assistant principal at Marshall Elementary School.

Also, 1999 North Allegheny graduate Rob Niederberger was hired as the new head coach for the boys basketball team, coming most recently from Shaler Area High School.

As coach, Niederberger replaces Dave DeGregorio, who retired following the 2024-25 school year. As a teacher, he replaces the late Rob Greenleaf as social studies teacher at the senior high school. Niederberger is a former basketball player at North Allegheny, according to district spokesperson Randy Gore.

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