April 19, 2022

School Board member honored as Voice of Advocacy

Barbara Bolas, a 34-year member of the Upper St. Clair School Board, will be honored with the Voice of Advocacy Award from the Western Pennsylvania Forum of School Superintendents. Mrs. Bolas will be recognized during the Forum’s spring retreat on Wednesday, April 27 at the Omni Bedford Spring Resort in Bedford, Pa.

Nominated by Dr. Patrick O’Toole, who retired as Upper St. Clair’s superintendent in 2018, Mrs. Bolas has been praised for her service and advocacy.

“Since moving to the Pittsburgh region, she has been devoted to public service,” Dr. O’Toole said. “Mrs. Bolas has a long history of service to public education at the local, state and national levels and has been a strong advocate for children of Upper St. Clair and beyond.”

Throughout her tenure, Mrs. Bolas has served leadership roles locally as well as with the Pennsylvania School Boards Association and the National School Boards Association. She served as a PSBA officer and board member from 1998 through 2010, including serving as president of the organization in 2001. Mrs. Bolas served as a NSBA board member from 2001-2010 and was the NSBA president in 2008-09.

Locally, Mrs. Bolas served as the USC School Board president in 1989, 1998, 2013 and 2020. In addition, she was vice-president in 1988, 1997, 2012, 2018 and 2019. In addition, she has chaired and served on numerous board committees over her three decades of service.

“The wealth of experience that frames Mrs. Bolas’s perspectives is invaluable,” Dr. John Rozzo, current superintendent of schools, said. “She continues to be a leader in our Upper St. Clair community, in public education and, especially, within our board room. We appreciate and value her service and leadership.”

Mrs. Bolas was previously honored with the PSBA Chief Executive Officer’s Distinguished Service Pin, which recognizes PSBA members, staff and education advocates for their extraordinary service and work on behalf of the association. She holds a bachelor’s degree in education from the State University of New York. She began her career as a public school teacher.

The Forum for Western Pennsylvania School Superintendents was established over a quarter century ago to advocate for the region's children and youth by providing customized staff development experiences for superintendents. Dr. William Pope, a retired superintendent from the Upper St. Clair School District, was a founding member of the Forum.