Kiski Area is now looking for a new superintendent in Westmoreland County because Misty Slavic said she will step aside after more than two years as the district's leader.
The school board members were told on Monday with a 90-day notice. Slavic stated in an email to TribLive that she is resigning because her husband got a job offer in New York.
“After many years of my husband taking care of all five of our children's school activities, making dinner every night and supporting me through many challenging times in my career, he deserves this next step,” Slavic said.
Slavic also mentioned that her decision has nothing to do with the school board or district, which she had planned to work in for the rest of her career. She plans to take a different education role in New York.
Todd Sterlitz, the Kiski Area School Board president, praised Slavic for driving improvements at the intermediate school and said their relationship was “wonderful.”
“She’s a very good superintendent, and I have a lot of respect for her,” Sterlitz said. “I’m sorry to see her go.”
In August 2021, the school board hired Slavic on a three-year contract with a starting salary of $153,000, which has now increased to $164,000. She is the first woman to hold the district’s top post.
Before coming to Kiski Area, she worked as an administrator for Chartiers Valley School District. She also worked in New Kensington-Arnold, Burgettstown, and Freedom Area school districts in Western Pennsylvania.
School board members and Slavic didn’t always agree. In February, the board rejected a plan supported by Slavic to reassign administrative responsibilities and raise their pay with a vote of 7-2.
“I think the board members a couple weeks ago weren’t quite ready for that type of change,” Sterlitz said. “I don’t think there’s any hard feelings.”
Westmoreland County has had a recent increase in superintendent resignations.
In January, superintendents at two of the county’s biggest districts — Hempfield Area’s Tammy Wolicki and Norwin’s Jeff Taylor — announced they were leaving their positions.
In December, Tiffany Nix resigned as the superintendent of Leechburg Area School District. She is now the assistant superintendent of the Penn-Trafford School District.
Around 35% of all superintendents in Pennsylvania have changed jobs in the past two years, according to data from the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators.
Slavic said she feels sad about leaving the district but also proud.
“I am deeply proud of the district and the amazing work that the staff and community do for the academic and personal well-being of our students,” Slavic said.
The school board will have its regular information meeting tonight at 7, where Slavic is scheduled to give her usual report.
