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2026-27 Opening Day

Photos of 18 new teachers

The Upper St. Clair School District kicked off the 2026-27 school year Thursday, Aug. 13, with its annual Opening Day celebration, welcoming teachers, paraprofessionals, school counselors, school nurses, school psychologists and other staff members back to campus.

The celebration began with a performance by the Upper St. Clair Marching Band, which is bigger than ever this year with more than 90 students in grades 8-12. In addition to performing the National Anthem and Alma Mater, the band showcased selections from its 2026 halftime show, “All is Fair in Love,” featuring music by Raye, Teddy Swims, OutKast and The Fugees. The marching band is led by band director Nick Deutsch.

The Opening Day program featured remarks from John Biedrzycki, Parent Teacher Council (PTC) president; Dr. Dan Zelenski, teachers’ union president; Hallie Snyder, school board vice president; and Dr. John Rozzo, superintendent of schools.

Dr. Amy Pfender, deputy superintendent, served as emcee throughout the morning and recognized 12 staff members celebrating 25 years of service to the district. Honorees include:

  • Melissa Casella, Eisenhower Elementary teacher
  • Elizabeth Cecelia, Upper St. Clair High School teacher
  • Bethany Chase, Upper St. Clair High School teacher
  • Jennifer Daley, Eisenhower Elementary teacher
  • Ryan Duchi, Fort Couch Middle School teacher
  • William Gehrlein, Boyce Middle School teacher
  • Christina Guarnaccio, Upper St. Clair High School teacher
  • Melissa Hughes, Upper St. Clair High School teacher
  • Barb Kostelic, bus driver
  • Laura Moeller, Upper St. Clair High School teacher
  • Cephus Moore, Upper St. Clair High School teacher
  • Alexander Shefler, Upper St. Clair High School teacher

The district also welcomed its newest faculty and staff members. Throughout the summer, administrators interviewed candidates and worked to build the team that will support Upper St. Clair students throughout the coming school year. Dr. Timothy Wagner, director of secondary education, and Dr. Dan O’Rourke, director of elementary and middle-level education, introduced the district’s new teachers and paraprofessionals:

  • Sarah Sabo, Special Education, Upper St. Clair High School
  • Holly Herbertson, English, Upper St. Clair High School
  • Patrick Finnegan, Social Studies, Upper St. Clair High School
  • Iva Herzog, School Counselor, Upper St. Clair High School
  • Kellie Passodelis, English, Upper St. Clair High School
  • Beth Karambelkar, Math, Upper St. Clair High School
  • Beth Kress, Head Secretary, Baker Elementary School
  • Lauren DeShields, Paraprofessional, Baker Elementary School
  • Sarah Jones, Paraprofessional, Baker Elementary School
  • Stacy Hillman, Health Services Nurse, Baker Elementary School
  • Tammy Lentz, Paraprofessional, Streams Elementary School
  • Shannon Northey, Special Education, Boyce Middle School
  • Jenna Bickel, Paraprofessional, Boyce Middle School
  • Kayla Walnoha, Math - Grade 6, Boyce Middle School
  • Laura Otte, Spanish, Boyce & Fort Couch Middle Schools
  • Malorie Glancy, Social Studies, Fort Couch Middle School
  • Amy Davis, Paraprofessional, Fort Couch Middle School
  • Cloe Hall, Strings/Orchestra, Fort Couch Middle School & Upper St. Clair High School

The Opening Day celebration marked the beginning of another school year focused on learning, growth and connection across the district. Staff will spend the days leading up to the first day of classes preparing classrooms, collaborating with colleagues and getting ready to welcome students.

Students in grades 1-12 will begin the 2026-27 school year Wednesday, Aug. 19. For kindergarten families, Wednesday, Aug. 19, and Thursday, Aug. 20, will be dedicated to welcome events and orientation. The first regular day of kindergarten will be Friday, Aug. 21.

A grid of headshots of twelve smiling individuals is displayed against a dark background, with %2225 years of service%22 and the USC logo in the foreground.
A grid of headshots of fifteen smiling teachers fills the foreground, with a blurred, institutional-looking background and the text %222026-27 New Teachers%22 in the lower right corner.
A young woman holds cymbals in the foreground while a band of musicians plays instruments in the background.
A group of young musicians in black shirts with a %22U%22 logo play various instruments, including clarinets, tubas, and a xylophone, on a stage with a plain gray backdrop.
A young woman plays a saxophone in the foreground, while other musicians with brass and woodwind instruments perform against a dark background.
A young woman in a black t-shirt and jeans directs a band of musicians playing brass and woodwind instruments on a stage.
A group of young musicians in black shirts with a white logo play various instruments on a stage with a dark background.
In the foreground, a group of young musicians plays brass instruments, while the background is a dark, indistinct stage.
A young girl with pink streaks in her hair plays a clarinet in the foreground, while other students in black t-shirts with a white %22U%22 logo play brass instruments in the blurred background.
A young woman with glasses plays a saxophone in the foreground, while a dark, blurred background suggests a stage or performance space.
A young woman in ripped jeans plays a saxophone on a stage with speakers and stage lighting in the background.
A young girl in a black t-shirt and leggings holds a flag pole in the foreground, with a textured wall and a wooden trim in the background.
A young person in the foreground is holding a black and white flag, with a blurred background of a wall and railing.
In the foreground, a group of people are seated in an auditorium, while in the background, a young woman waves a black and white flag.
A young woman in the foreground holds black flags while an audience watches in the background.
In the foreground, young musicians in black shirts with a %22U%22 logo play percussion instruments, while in the background, a brass section of a band is visible.
A young man plays a saxophone in the foreground while others play trumpets and other instruments in the background.
A young man plays a saxophone in the foreground, while other musicians with brass instruments are visible in the blurred background.
A young woman plays a xylophone in the foreground while a band plays instruments in the blurred background.
Young musicians play percussion instruments in the foreground, while other band members and brass instruments are visible in the dark background.
A group of young musicians in black t-shirts play various brass and woodwind instruments in front of a dark stage curtain.
A diverse group of young musicians in black shirts with a white %22U%22 logo play various instruments, including a flute, saxophone, and brass instruments, against a blurred background.
A young man plays the saxophone in the foreground, while other musicians with brass instruments are visible in the blurred background.
A group of young musicians in black t-shirts play various instruments, including clarinets, flutes, and brass instruments, on a stage with a dark background.
In the foreground, students play percussion instruments, while in the background, a brass section of a band performs.
Two security guards and a student stand on a paved walkway in front of a modern building with large glass doors and a curved roof.
A young woman plays a xylophone in the foreground while a band plays various instruments in the blurred background.
A festive balloon arch with pencils and a notebook decoration frames a %22Welcome Back USC Teachers and Staff%22 sign in the foreground, set against a tiled wall and doorways in the background.
Red buckets filled with snacks and promotional flyers sit on a table in the foreground, while a seating area with gray chairs and large windows forms the background.
In the foreground, a long table displays bowls of pens, candy, and other items, while in the background, chairs and a doorway are visible.
In the foreground, a table is laden with red buckets filled with candy and colorful signs, while in the background, two gray chairs sit against a tiled wall.
Three men in suits stand in a hallway with %22UPPER ST%22 signage above them.
In the foreground, three red buckets are filled with candy and decorated with colorful signs, while the background features two gray chairs and a tiled wall.
Five people pose in front of a balloon arch with pencils and apples, while a brick wall and tiled floor form the background.
Five women stand in front of a balloon arch with apples and pencils, with a white wall and tiled columns in the background.
Two women stand in front of a large balloon arch decorated with pencils and red and black balloons, with a backdrop resembling a lined notebook page that reads %22Welcome Back USC Teachers and Staff.%22
Six uniformed individuals stand in front of a balloon arch and a %22Welcome Back%22 sign, with a wall and a sign visible in the background.
Three women smile in front of a balloon arch decorated with apples and pencils, with a %22Welcome US Teachers%22 sign in the background.
Three women stand in front of a balloon arch decorated with apples and pencils, with a %22Welcome%22 sign visible in the background.
Two women stand in front of a large paper-themed backdrop adorned with balloons shaped like apples, pencils, and notebooks, while a tiled wall and a railing are visible in the background.
Several men in tactical vests sit in the foreground of an auditorium filled with an audience in the background.
A marching band stands ready on a stage with a conductor in the foreground, facing a large group of musicians with instruments, set against a backdrop of stage curtains and lighting.
A man speaks into a microphone on a stage in front of a band.
A woman stands on a stage in front of a marching band, with instruments and band members filling the background.
A band performs on a stage with a conductor in the foreground and an audience in the background.
A young woman plays a saxophone on a stage with a red curtain in the background and an audience visible in the lower left.
A young woman plays a saxophone on a stage with red curtains and musical equipment in the background.
A band director stands on a stool in the foreground, facing a large band performing on stage in the background.
A young woman plays a saxophone on a stage in front of a seated audience in a large auditorium.
Rows of empty seats fill the foreground of a large auditorium filled with an audience in the background.
A band director stands on a platform in the foreground, directing a large ensemble of musicians playing various instruments on a stage in front of a gray backdrop.
An audience fills the seats of a theater in the background, while the empty stage occupies the foreground.
A marching band with brass instruments and xylophones performs on a stage with a large, draped backdrop.
A band director stands on a platform in the foreground, directing a large student band playing various instruments on a stage with a dark curtain in the background.
A man in a suit speaks at a wooden podium in the foreground, while a blurred audience and stage lighting are visible in the background.
A man in a white shirt and red tie speaks at a wooden podium in the foreground, while an audience sits in the background.
A woman in a green outfit stands at a wooden podium with her arm raised, while an American flag and stage lights are visible in the background.
A bald man in a suit gestures with his hands while speaking at a wooden podium in the foreground, with an audience and stage lighting visible in the background.
A man in a light suit speaks at a wooden podium in the foreground, while an audience and American flag are visible in the softly lit background.
A man in a suit speaks at a podium in the foreground, while a stage with musical equipment is visible in the background.
A woman speaks at a podium in front of an audience, with an American flag and stage lighting in the background.
A man in a suit speaks at a podium in the foreground, while a stage with lights is visible in the background.
A man in a suit gestures while speaking at a wooden podium, with stage lighting and a dark background behind him.