Chartiers Valley administrator in line to become Kiski Area's next superintendent, district's first female leader

An administrator with the Chartiers Valley School District is poised to become Kiski Area School District’s next superintendent — and the first woman to hold the district’s top post.

Kiski Area School Board is expected to vote Monday, Aug. 16 on a proposal to hire Misty Slavic to a three-year contract. It would include a starting salary of $153,000, prorated for the fiscal year that began in July. If hired, Slavic would replace Acting Superintendent Jason Lohr on Oct. 1.

Slavic, 44, is the assistant superintendent of curriculum and assessment at Chartiers Valley, which includes the communities of Bridgeville, Heidelberg and Collier and Scott townships.

School director Mark Flemm called the upcoming vote a “formality.” He said he was impressed with Slavic’s “wealth of knowledge in many different areas” during the interview process.

“We were simply looking for the best candidate, and it just so happened our new superintendent will be a woman,” Flemm said. “It wasn’t something that was planned. That said, it’s always nice to see walls broken down.”

Flemm said about a dozen of the 23 candidates who submitted resumes were interviewed.

Raised in Salix near Johnstown, Slavic said, “I grew up in an area similar to the Kiski Area School District.”

Slavic lives in Cranberry with her husband and five children.

She earned a bachelor’s degree and doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh, along with a master’s from the University of Phoenix, a principal’s certification from Drexel University in Philadelphia and a superintendent letter of eligibility from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.

Among her career stops, she served as an eighth-grade English teacher and later a technology integration coach at New Kensington-Arnold School District.

She also held administrative posts in Burgettstown Area School District in Washington County and Freedom Area School District in Beaver County before going to Chartiers Valley two years ago.

Slavic said her “work on curriculum development provided me the opportunity to ensure that all students, regardless of their ability levels and needs, were provided with an equitable education.”

Slavic said pandemic conditions have been “challenging” for all school districts and communities during the past year and a half.

“I’m optimistic that through the exceptional educational expertise, compassion and devotion of the Kiski Area School District teachers, administration, school board and staff, that students will grow and achieve success,” Slavic said.

Flemm described Slavic as having “great enthusiasm” and said he looks forward to new leadership in the district.

“She has a great enthusiasm for education and impressive drive to lead and grow her own skill set in order to better those around her,” Flemm said.

Lohr has been paid an additional $3,000 a month since being named acting superintendent in June following the retirement announcement of Superintendent Tim Scott. Lohr will return to his previous job as assistant to the superintendent for K-12 education when Slavic takes the helm.

“Our district family is grateful to the school board for all of their hard work this summer in finding such a well-qualified and experienced candidate to place on the agenda for consideration,” Lohr said.

Kiski Area School District enrolls about 3,500 students in the Alle-Kiski Valley.

The Aug. 16 meeting is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. and will be streamed on the school board page link of the district website.