New Kensington-Arnold appoints associate special education director

New Kensington-Arnold School District’s superintendent says a new special education position will assist efforts to strengthen that department.

Lisa Bozzo was appointed as associate director of special education, a new role, earlier this month.

Her salary is $88,500.

“It’s to build the program,” said Superintendent Chris Sefcheck. “We’d like to bring more services back to the district. We have an exceptionally good special education department. We feel special education is one of our strongest departments.”

Close to 30% of district students receive special education services, according to the state Education Department.

According to Sefcheck, Bozzo’s background is in speech language pathology with an emphasis on special education. He said Bozzo’s position “enables our special education director to build and grow a more robust special education program.”

“While monitoring for special education compliance is a big portion of this role, observing and coaching teachers is a large part of my job as an administrator as well,” said Jennifer Pallone, New Kensington-Arnold’s director of special education. “The addition of Mrs. Bozzo will allow me to be active and present to continue to improve programming and instruction.”

Pallone said Bozzo will assist her in overseeing and administering the district’s special education programs.

“We are charged with the duties and responsibilities of maintaining and improving a sound education program, teaching, and learning environment which creates an atmosphere where special education teachers and students with disabilities and other exceptional needs are well-supported,” Pallone said.

Bozzo was a speech language pathologist in the district for years, Sefcheck said, before interning in the special education department last year.

That will make for a smooth transition, Sefcheck said.

“She did an exceptional job as an intern with the school district,” he said.