Deidra Stepko wasn’t too sure of being an administrator when she became the interim principal of Marion Elementary School in the Belle Vernon Area School District in 2018.
She had taught first and third grades at the school, and she was uncertain if she’d like being in the principal’s office instead of the classroom.
“It took about two weeks of being acting principal when I went home and told my husband, I love this,” said Stepko, who’s now the principal of Chartiers Valley Primary School.
“I love the opportunity to have larger and deeper relationships with students and families. I was still educating and helping them, just in a different way.”
And it seems the administrative role is a perfect fit for her.
Stepko, 38, of South Park, was named a Pittsburgh Penguins MVP (Most Valuable Principal). She was honored at a Penguins game March 17 and was also awarded a custom Penguins jersey and $1,000 for the primary school.
Fifteen principals in Western Pennsylvania earned the recognition.
“I’m shocked, I’m very flattered,” Stepko said. “I’m humbled and honored.”
Stepko wanted to be a teacher for as long as she can remember. She earned degrees in elementary education and early childhood education from the California University of Pennsylvania and in 2018, she received her doctorate in educational leadership and administration from Point Park University.
Stepko joined Chartiers Valley’s administrative team in November 2022. She said her calling is educating primary school students. Chartiers Valley Primary School serves about 800 students in kindergarten through second grade.
“These kids, they learn and grow at such a rapid rate,” Stepko said. “You get to see those ‘Wow’ moments, and ‘Aha’ moments, frequently. There’s always something to celebrate, and you get to see their growth so quickly.”
She starts her school day by greeting students as they walk into the building.
“I think it’s important when kids start their day off on a positive note,” she said.
From there, every day is different. She tries to get into classrooms to observe as much as she can. The day also consists of meetings. Student discipline, Stepko said, is something she has come to enjoy.
“That’s the piece when I get to be an educator again, and I try to make sure the kids are learning from their experiences,” she said.
Stepko has set goals with assistant principal Nativa Tamasy to maintain the school’s equity and excellence.
“We want to keep going with our high standard of excellence, and equity means it’s for every student,” Stepko said.
Tamasy enjoys working with Stepko because their personalities mesh.
“We have a nice balance in our strengths,” Tamasy said. “She has a good primary school background, and I have a good special education background.
“We can challenge each other and work through the problems together without it being combative or confrontational.”
Tamasy said Stepko is deserving of the MVP award from the Penguins.
“I feel lucky to work with her,” Tamasy said. “We joke we’re two halves of the same person. We work so well together.”
Stepko said she is grateful for the students, families and school staff that she’s able to work with every day.
“Our teachers here do so many things for the kids. They need more recognition,” Stepko said.
She pointed out the school’s Reading Week, Kids of Steel running program and American Heart Association’s Kids Heart Challenge as examples.
“(The teachers) really make it easy for me, because they have so many great ideas,” she said.
Stepko acknowledges that she couldn’t have been named Penguins MVP without the support and teamwork from students’ families and school staff. She’s proud of the positive school culture that exists at the Primary School.
“Our parents, I think they know that we truly love and care about their kids and want what’s best for them,” Stepko said. “There’s a sense of community. We are all here for the kids.”
