NA Hires New Assistant Superintendent

McCANDLESS, PA - The North Allegheny School District has hired Melissa Friez as its new assistant superintendent. She succeeds David Christopher, who recently was appointed superintendent of the Cumberland Valley School District.

Friez comes to the district from the Pittsburgh Public Schools, where most recently she served as assistant superintendent of student support services. In that role, she oversaw counselors, social workers, athletics, code of conduct, positive behavior intervention and support services, Early College in High School, Title IX and the district crisis response team.

Friez also served as assistant superintendent of instructional leadership for the district. In that role, she oversaw four high schools, five 6-12 schools, and three specialty schools. Her responsibilities involved working with building level administrators on the successful implementation of building-level goals and creating and providing professional development on instruction and leadership.

“Mrs. Friez’s experience will be an invaluable resource to North Allegheny as we continue to grow, provide innovative opportunities for our students and staff, and prepare all students for success in a changing world,”superintendent Robert Scherrer said in a district release. “Her familiarity and leadership in secondary education will be a great asset to the district and our administrative team. We’re looking forward to welcoming her at the beginning of the new school year in August.”

Prior to becoming an assistant superintendent, Mrs. Friez served nine years as a high school principal, with eight of those years leading Taylor Allderdice High School in Squirrel Hill.

Friez has a bachelor’s degree in English literature and psychology from the University of Pittsburgh, a master’s degree in Secondary English Education from Duquesne University, K-12 Principal Certification from Carlow University and obtained her superintendent’s letter of eligibility from the University of Pittsburgh, where she is working on her dissertation in pursuit of a doctoral degree in administrative and policy studies.