This year marks an exciting new change in our school’s administration team as our school welcomes two new leaders: Principal Mr. Misko and Assistant Principal Mrs. Casello. We interviewed them to find out more about who they are, what brought them here, and what they hope to accomplish during their time at our school.
Mrs. Casello
Where did you spend your high school years/go to college?
I graduated from Ambridge Area High School, which is where I am from and where my family lives. After high school, I attended Penn State and majored in Psychology. I spent all 4 years at the main campus and then moved home to get my Master’s in Elementary Education from Pitt.
Why did you decide to work at Moon?
I wanted to come to Moon for many reasons! I spent the last 13 years at Propel Schools, primarily serving students and families throughout the City of Pittsburgh. I started as a teacher and moved into different roles over the years including Assistant Principal and then Principal. I am grateful for each opportunity at Propel and loved my work and my students. Coming to Moon was a decision I made for my own personal and professional growth as Moon is very different from my previous school, including its size and programming. The opportunities that students have at Moon, as well as working with the talented staff, really excited me!
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself outside of your position (hobbies, family, activities, etc.)?
Outside of school I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I have a very big family, and we are very close. I also enjoy traveling (especially to warm places!) and being outside near water!
What are some things that you are looking forward to working with the lower classman this year?
Ms. Hegerich and I are here to support any student who comes our way, no matter what grade they are in! But with my focus on grades 9 and 10, I’m really excited about doing my part to make their high school experience a positive one. I strongly believe that school should be a safe and supportive place for every child, and if there’s any way I can make it better or contribute to the mission, I will do it.
What’s something interesting about you that most people wouldn’t guess?
Most people probably wouldn’t guess that I have a 3rd Degree Black Belt in karate! Since I became a principal years ago, I have been out of practice, but I started karate when I was 7 years old and also competed throughout college.
After the first few weeks of school, what is something that has stuck out to you in this district?
I would say the amount of people who LOVE Moon! I am impressed by how many staff members graduated from Moon, live in Moon, and send their kids to Moon. That speaks volumes to the pride and confidence they have in their colleagues to provide a high-quality education to their child. I absolutely love that!
What do you expect from the students this year?
To put it simply, I expect students to learn, be safe, and HAVE FUN. High School is one of those periods in your life that you will always remember, for better or for worse. It won’t necessarily be your peak life experience, but it is a memorable one. My hope for all students is for it to be a positive experience that sets them up for their next chapter. However, it’s important to remember that in high school, YOU are the one who gets to decide!
What’s a piece of advice you would give to someone in your exact position?
My advice would be to ask questions, take it slow, and be yourself.
What are your goals for the year?
Because I’ve been an administrator for some time, I have some short term/immediate goals, and then some long-term goals. For the immediate, I just want to get to know staff, students and families – I want everyone to get to know my style of leadership and see that I am a “student first” leader. I like being in classrooms as much as possible, supporting teachers and students as best I can.
Mr. Misko
Where did you spend your high school years/go to college?
I graduated from DuBois Central Christian HS (hometown is DuBois PA) and I spent time at a few universities before earning my Bachelor of Science in Mathematics Education from Clarion University.
Why did you decide to work at Moon?
As an Assistant Principal at a high school similar in size to Moon (Shaler Area) there were two things I desired… 1) to lead my own building and 2) I wanted to be closer to home. I currently live with my wife and 2 kids in West Allegheny. My wife graduated from Moon. I wanted to be part of the community in which I work. While not directly in Moon, I consider myself part of the airport community in which I will still have the opportunity to interact with students, families, and various community stakeholders outside of the typical school day. I didn’t have that working at Shaler Area and residing here near the airport. No one traveled to the Robinson mall or Sam’s club, etc. They have their own shopping and stores up there, so it was difficult to be seen and viewed as someone invested in the school district community.
Moon was also a desirable destination for many reasons… The opportunities and supports we offer students in all phases of high school (athletics, arts, activities, and of course the education). As I mentioned we have many ties to Moon since my wife graduated from here, we have family and friends in Moon, and it’s just known as a great place to raise a family. I have volunteered for the moon community in the past and it just felt like the right fit for me in this part of my professional career.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself outside of your position (hobbies, family, activities, etc.)?
I love anything sports. My two boys play a lot of sports. We are typically seen spending a lot of time at a soccer or baseball field. As a family we invest a lot of time traveling. Not necessarily to different countries, even though we have made trips outside the USA, but just spending time as a family exploring things together and making memories. As a family we are really into baseball and our goal by the time our kids graduate high school is to see a game at every major league ballpark. I believe we have been to 8 so far with more on the way next summer. Fenway is currently our favorite park so far that we have visited. As we travel, we also check out local colleges and universities for our kids to see what else is out there in terms of their education. We’ve visited places like Duke, UNC, Penn State, Harvard, MIT, Yale, Ohio State, Pitt, and Robert Morris to name a few. There are others but I honestly can’t think of them all right now. With myself in my role and my wife as a high school mathematics teacher we know and understand that a good education provides so many opportunities, and we want our kids to have a solid understanding of what options they have as they graduate high school.
What advice would you give to the seniors this year?
Education doesn’t end when you earn your diploma. Embrace life-long learning, adapt to new situations, and learn to be comfortable while being uncomfortable because often that is when you see the most personal growth in yourself.
What’s something interesting about you that most people wouldn’t guess?
I am a volunteer firefighter. I come from a family of volunteers and that was my way of giving back to my community
After the first few weeks of school, what is something that has stuck out to you in this district?
A strong sense of pride from the community, students, and staff as a whole. I appreciate all the individuals who have introduced themselves to me and explained what they believe makes Moon so amazing. This is truly a great community, and you are so lucky to go to this amazing school district.
What would you define a successful school environment?
Life is about relationships and remaining connected. If students heard anything from my speech during class meetings it was this… Find that adult who made a difference for you here at school. If you haven’t found that person yet, do so this year. Get involved. There are so many opportunities to become an integral part of our school community. Relationships matter and for a school to be successful, students need to feel welcomed and connected.
If you weren’t a principal, what job would you have (if anything could be considered a job?
I am really fascinated with weather so if I had to do it all over, I would be a meteorologist.