PHOTO COURTESY TOWN AND COUNTRY STUDIO
D
orseyville Middle School
Assistant Principal Patricia
Clark has a real connection
with middle school
students. “They are full of energy and
enthusiasm, and they are changing and
developing in so many ways all at once.
They are trying to figure life out. They
want to be independent, but also need
their families.” She says every day with
Ms. Clark has played a major role in
Dorseyville Middle School’s success –
she was a part of the leadership team
when DMS was first recognized in the
Middle Schools to Watch program in
2010, and again when Dorseyville was
redesignated in 2013. The program
recognizes middle schools that
demonstrate academic excellence,
developmental responsiveness, social
equity, and strong organizational
structures. “It really affirms the
commitment that DMS has had for many
years – to provide a learning experience
that addresses the unique needs of
middle level-learners,” she comments.
Ms. Clark says that the collaborative
spirit she first observed when she came
to Dorseyville in 2002 is still present
today. “You can see it as students work
together in our classrooms and during
extracurricular activities. Teachers work
with each other in both their home
schools and with colleagues in other
buildings.” She continues, “As principals,
we have enjoyed great working
relationships with the principals at the
high school and elementary schools,
as well as with our central office staff.
People seek out the advice and input of
others when decisions need to be made.
Everyone works together to support each
other and provide the best educational
opportunities for our students.”
Originally from the Philadelphia
area, Ms. Clark moved to western
Pennsylvania in 1979 and considers
Pittsburgh her home. Before becoming
a part of the administrative team at
Dorseyville, she was a middle school/
high school special education teacher
in the West Greene School District.
She completed her bachelor’s degree in
elementary education and her master’s
degree in special education at California
University of Pennsylvania.
Ms. Clark enjoys spending time with her
family. She has three grown children and
three grandchildren.
N
ew O’Hara Elementary
School Assistant Principal
Aaron Rea has only been
with the district since midSeptember, but it didn’t take long for
him to experience the positive learning
culture at O’Hara.
“Immediately, I felt an overwhelming
level of support and togetherness
amongst the students, staff,
administration, and our community,” he
notes.
Prior to coming to O’Hara, Mr. Rea
worked for 10 years with the Highlands
School District. He started as a fifth grade
classroom teacher, but quickly moved
to Highlands Middle School where he
served as a sixth grade math teacher.
Math is Mr. Rea’s specialty. He is
particularly proud of the after-school
math tutoring program that he started at
PHOTO COURTESY TOWN AND COUNTRY STUDIO
AARON REA APPOINTED
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT O’HARA
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Highlands Middle School. The program,
for students “academically at risk,” was
led by high school National Honor
Society students.
Aside from mathematics, Mr. Rea
also has an interest in schoolwide
positive behavior support. “I would
like to see O’Hara Elementary further
celebrate those students who regularly
and consistently meet and exceed our
classroom and buildingwide expectations
in regard to behavior and citizenship.”
After graduating from Slippery Rock
University with a bachelor’s degree in
elementary education, Mr. Rea relocated
to Virginia where he taught sixth grade.
After he returned to the Pittsburgh area
in 2003, he completed a master’s degree
in curriculum and instruction and earned
his principal’s certification from Gannon
University.
Mr. Rea particularly enjoys athleticrelated hobbies. In addition to being a
season ticket holder for Pitt basketball,
he enjoys traveling to different ballparks
across the country, “although PNC Park
remains my favorite.” He also enjoys
mountain-biking and kayaking.
Fox Chapel Area | Winter 2013 | icmags.com 19
FOX C HAP E L ARE A SC HOOL N E WS
Dorseyville students is different. “They
are excited about the possibilities of
what every day, and the future, holds for
them!”
Fox Chapel Area
PAT CLARK PART OF THE
DMS TEAM SINCE 2002