DISTRICT’S REPUTATION DRAWS
SEASONED EDUCATOR TO FOX
CHAPEL AREA
T
he reputation of
the district had
everything to do with
bringing seasoned
educator Sari Brecosky to Fox
Chapel Area. The district’s new
director of literacy said, “The level of professionalism in the
district is second-to-none and is acknowledged throughout
Allegheny County.” She also noted the “sincere dedication”
of the staff and faculty to the students. “I wanted to be a
part of that kind of educational community! Everyone is
committed to doing what is in the best interest of students.”
Mrs. Brecosky has been an educator for many years, beginning
as a teacher in several grade levels and even at the college level.
She also worked as a consultant for educators in other states
and has been employed as a literacy expert for technology
companies that need assistance developing software in the field
of literacy. For the past 15 years, she worked for the Allegheny
Intermediate Unit where she served as the coordinator of
curriculum and reading. Mrs. Brecosky said that working across
the county and the state has given her the opportunity to
understand both trends and misconceptions in teaching and
learning.
Mrs. Brecosky, who started working at Fox Chapel Area in
August, has degrees from Indiana University of Pennsylvania
and the University of Pittsburgh. She has an elementary
education degree, a master’s degree in reading, and reading
specialist and administration certifications.
She and her husband Jack have two grown daughters and three
grandchildren. She said with a smile, “Grandchildren are the
best things ever!” Aside from spending time with her family,
Mrs. Brecosky also enjoys gardening.
INTERIM BUSINESS MANAGER
ALSO HAS BENEFITS & HUMAN
RESOURCES EXPERIENCE
K
im Pawlishak was
happy with her
job of eight years
managing payroll,
benefits, and human resources
at the Pine-Richland School
District. But when she heard that there was an opening
for an assistant business manager in the Fox Chapel Area
School District, she knew that working here would be a great
advancement. “I had been wanting to focus more just in the
business and financial side for a while now. I’ve also had a
few colleagues who have worked for the district and spoke
highly of working here,” Ms. Pawlishak said.
“I’m still learning new things about the district every day,” she
continued. “But all of the district employees have been very
warm and welcoming. It’s a great atmosphere for a new person
to step into.”
Since starting in June, Ms. Pawlishak’s main focus has been on
the district’s implementation of new financial software and her
goal is to help get the new system running smoothly. As an
added bonus, Ms. Pawlishak used that same system when she
worked for Pine-Richland.
14 Fox Chapel Area
She described her work ethic as “nose-down, get the job done.”
So far, she has proven that, as she has stepped into the role of
interim business manager, a job which became available upon
the resignation of the district’s former director of business
affairs.
In addition to working for Pine-Richland, Ms. Pawlishak
handled payroll and benefits for Supercuts, PA, and had a job
in accounting for a school in New Jersey. She has a bachelor’s
degree in business administration from Ithaca College in New
York. She currently lives in Cranberry Township, but is hoping
to move closer to the Fox Chapel area. She enjoys spending her
free time with her twin first-grade daughters whom she said
have very different interests. “It’s wonderful to see them grow
– and it’s definitely keeping me on my toes,” she said laughing.
Ms. Pawlishak also describes herself as a “huge sports fan” and
enjoys watching Penguin games. In October, she was fortunate
enough to be able to attend the team’s season home opener to
watch the raising of the Stanley Cup banner. She also enjoys
football, baseball, and college basketball.
Photos Courtesy Hill’s Studio
FOX CH APE L AR EA SC H OO L NE WS
ox Chapel Area
A major goal Mrs. Brecosky has for the Fox Chapel Area
School District is to establish it as a “premiere institution” for
professional development in literacy. She already conducted a
Primary Teacher Academy in the school district in September.
The Academy is an intensive, comprehensive training in reading
and proven instructional practice offered as a professional
development series that extends over the course of one year.
The end goal is to increase the expertise of instruction, so that
all students have equal access to quality literacy instruction.
Teachers from other school districts, as well as from the Fox
Chapel Area, are participating in the academy. “I think that is a
pretty good start in making Fox Chapel Area the hub of literacy
knowledge. I am excited to see what else we can do,” Mrs.
Brecosky said. “But the bottom line is to improve the education
of our Fox Chapel Area students. That comes before anything
else.”