Leadership changes are coming to the Union City Area School District following action taken by the school board during its May 14 meeting.
Among the major personnel moves, the board accepted the resignation of Union City Area High School Principal Daniel Keefer, who is leaving the district to become superintendent of the Oil City Area School District. Keefer’s resignation takes effect June 30.
Keefer has spent more than two decades with the district. He was first hired in 1999 as a science teacher and remained in the classroom for 19 years before moving into administration. He later served as dean of students and assistant principal before becoming high school principal in 2021.
To fill the upcoming vacancy, the board approved the appointment of current middle school Principal Adam Shrout as high school principal. His five-year administrative term will begin July 1, 2026, and continue through June 30, 2031.
Shrout has held several leadership roles within the district since joining the administration in 2013 as assistant principal for the middle-high school. He later served as elementary school principal before becoming middle school principal in 2021.
The board also approved Brittany Howell as the new middle school principal under an Act 93 compensation agreement. Her appointment also begins July 1, 2026, for a five-year term.
The district’s elementary school leadership is also changing. Earlier this spring, Scott Mondy was selected as elementary principal to replace retiring administrator Dr. Melissa Tomcho beginning with the 2026-27 school year.
In additional personnel action, the board approved several new teaching hires effective Aug. 20 pending required employment paperwork.
Veira Gorniak was hired as a third-grade elementary teacher, filling a vacancy created by the retirement of Christine Williams. Jacques Taylor was approved as a high school mathematics teacher to replace retiring teacher Susanne Conti.
The board also hired Aidanne McLaughlin as a fourth-grade English language arts teacher following Madison McCaslin’s resignation, and Marissa Mattocks as the high school special education English language arts teacher to replace retiring teacher Teresa Pacileo.
All four teachers were approved at a starting bachelor’s degree salary of $55,000.
Board members also approved a request for an unpaid employee leave during the meeting.
Voting in favor of the personnel agenda were George Trauner, Stephen Gilbert, Corey Bailey, Chris Brenner, Douglas Hopson, Kimberle Thomas, David Tillotson and Kyle Troyer. Board member John Tingley II was absent.
Discover more from UC Today Online
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
