Highlands hires new high school principal

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Highlands hires new high school principal

Tawnya Panizzi | Tuesday, August 19, 2025 10:55 a.m.

Courtesy of Deer Lakes

Pat Baughman (left) is shown here with Deer Lakes administrator Ryan Aleski. Baughman is the new principal at Highlands High School.

Highlands High School has a new principal.

Patrick Baughman started his new role Tuesday. He will be paid $130,000.

He replaces Mike Toole, who led the high school since May 2023. Toole left the district for a role as principal at Logan Elementary in the East Allegheny School District.

“We are excited to have (Baughman) join the team,” Superintendent Monique Mawhinney said. “He’ll hit the ground running.”

Baughman most recently served as principal at Plum High School, where he was hired in 2023. Prior to that, he served as Deer Lakes High School principal for nearly a decade.

Baughman studied educational administration at Marywood University and special education at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.

The board also approved the district’s student handbooks for the 2025-26 school year. They will be available online at goldenrams.com.

The district’s first day of school is Aug. 26.

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