Upper St. Clair Hires New Middle School Principal

The Upper St. Clair School Board unanimously approved Monday the hiring of Amy Pfender as the new Boyce Middle School principal with the salary of $89,000 a year.

Pfender is currently the assistant principal at Boyce and Fort Couch middle schools.

She started with the district as an intern for principal Karen Brown and was hired in August 2005 as a special education teacher at Boyce. She assumed the position of elementary special education department chairperson in 2009 and special education curriculum leader in 2010.

Pfender holds a Master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a Bachelor’s degree from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.  In addition to her administrative principal certification, she also holds certifications in K-12 supervisor of curriculum and instruction and K-12 supervisor of special education, as well as five Instructional II certifications (K-12 mentally and/or physically handicapped, early childhood, elementary, mid-level English and mid-level mathematics). 

Before coming to Upper St. Clair, Pfender worked for the Peters Township School District.

"She is ready and we're very happy to have her," Superintendent Patrick O'Toole said. "She has spent the past four years in a variety of roles. She's very versatile.

"She's familiar with the culture of the school district."

"Amy has a strong connection with our students, parents and staff.  It has been a privilege to mentor her, and I am confident about her future as the principal at Boyce Middle School," said assistant Superintendent Sharon Suritsky.

"I'm truly, truly so excited for this opportunity," Pfender said.

Joseph DeMar, Fort Couch Middle School principal, and John Rozzo, academic principal of Fort Couch and Boyce middle schools, attended Monday night's board meeting in support of the hiring of Pfender.

Brown is retiring after 38 years with the district. 

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