New Principals Hired For Keystone Oaks High School, Aiken Elementary

DORMONT, PA - When school resumes in August, new principals will be in place at Keystone Oaks High School and Aiken Elementary School in the Keystone Oaks School District.

School directors have hired Jason Kushak as high school principal and Dave Thomas as Aiken principal.

“We are excited to welcome these two professionals as principals and members of the administrative team at Keystone Oaks School District,” superintendent William Stropka said. “We look forward to their leadership and guidance as we continue to improve and enhance programs and services for the students of Keystone Oaks School District.”

Kushak has been principal of Brownsville Area High School since 2013. He also has been a principal in the Forest Area School District and was an Uniontown School District elementary computer science teacher. He holds a master’s degree in education administration from the University of Pittsburgh.

Kushak’s career highlights include developing a 1:1 Chromebook initiative, integrating an entrepreneurship program into the high school curriculum and working with counselors to increase the number of students receiving scholarships and developing post-secondary plans.

Since February, Thomas has been the assistant middle school-high school principal in the Avonworth School District. He previously spent nine years as an Avonworth fourth grade teacher. He holds a master’s degree in elementary education from the University of Pittsburgh and completed Robert Morris University’s RMU-LEAD Principal Certification Program.

Thomas has also been instrumental in rolling out a 1:1 Chromebook program and has worked as a team member with the Student Assistance Program. He served on the district’s strategic planning and technology committees while teaching.

Logo via Keystone Oaks School District.