Cougar
Connection
PROMOTING COMMUNITY, EXCELLENCE, AND CHARACTER
continued
successes, both great and small, among the
children she has had the privilege to work
alongside. Mrs. Hoffman went to Riverview
High School and Clarion University for an
undergrad and Master’s degree in special
education. She earned a supervisory
certificate from Slippery Rock University.
Making her home in Cecil with husband
Paul, two chocolate labs and a cat, Mrs.
Hoffman is a step-mom to three children
and two step-grandchildren.
arlynton-Montour
CARLYNTON SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS
Maggie Morvay
s Rising senior Maggie Morvay
received the Ralph Munn Award for
her writing, The Voice of Travel. The
poem, penned for a creative writing
assignment in English class, was chosen
for publication in the 2020 Ralph
Munn Creative Writing Anthology
and describes the vibrant colors in an
airport while traveling to Costa Rico
for a mission trip. Sponsored by the
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, the
Ralph Munn Creative Writing Contest
gives teenage writers, artists, musicians
and coders the opportunity to share
their work. Maggie, who serves on the
high school’s morning announcements
broadcast team, plans to write for the
school newspaper and yearbook in the
upcoming school year.
s All dressed up and no place to
go. Such was the scenario for juniors
and seniors hoping to have a prom
this past May. Seniors and good
friends Savannah Sevacko, Erin Fox,
Elizabeth Duffy and Abigail Lherbier
decided to celebrate anyhow by
donning their best and taking some
46 CARLYNTON
memorable photos. Don’t let the frowns
fool you – they had a great time in doing so.
s DISTRICT WELCOMES
SARA HOFFMAN
The district extends a warm welcome
to Sara Hoffman, Director of Special
Education and Pupil Services. Mrs. Hoffman
comes to Carlynton from the Clairton
City School District where she held the
position of Supervisor of Special Education.
With over 20 years in education, Mrs.
Hoffman says she was drawn to the small,
community feel of the District.
Her father, an educator for 32 years,
inspired her and her siblings to choose
education as a career. Growing up, she
always believed her calling was to work in
special education where she has witnessed
Sara Hoffman
s It is never easy to say goodbye, but even
more so, when the school year does not
end as usual. Four incredible teachers with
a collective 97 years of experience retired
at the end of the 2019-2020 school year:
Cynthia Bevan, Mary Ferro, Lisa Rowley
and Frank Zebrasky. Likewise, secretaries
Deborah Chiocca and Catherine
Kovach retired from their posts, joined by
paraprofessionals Linda Driscoll, Nancy
McMullen and Cindy White-Sutton.
Custodian Darlene Hatcher and cafeteria
worker Maria Apicella have also retired
after many years of service in our schools.
And regrettably, Rachel Gattuso, high
school assistant principal, is saying farewell
as her husband takes a new job in another
city. The Carlynton School District extends it
best wishes to these dedicated individuals
who gave of their time and abilities to
support the children of the District.