Dan Beck named PA Assistant Principal of the Year

Dr. Dan Beck, assistant principal at Upper St. Clair High School, has been selected as the 2025 Robert E. Lavely Assistant Principal of the Year by the Pennsylvania Principals Association in conjunction with the National Association of Secondary School Principals’ (NASSP) National Assistant Principal of the Year program.

The state and national Assistant Principal of the Year program recognizes outstanding middle level and high school assistant principals who have demonstrated success in leadership, curriculum and personalization. This marks the second time Dr. Beck has earned statewide recognition for his leadership and support of students. In 2020, he was named the Pennsylvania Association of Student Councils Principal of the Year.

 "Our selection committee has once again found a committed, enthusiastic and talented educator to represent Pennsylvania as the 2025 Assistant Principal of the Year at the secondary level. Dr. Dan Beck's genuine commitment to the students, faculty and Upper St. Clair community exemplifies the desirable traits we look for in a candidate,” Dr. Eric C. Eshbach, executive director of the Pennsylvania Principals Association, said. “Dan's passion for his students, his school and his fellow administrators shows how important each member of the administrative team is. I am thrilled that Dr. Beck has been selected to represent the Pennsylvania Principals Association as our 2025 Assistant Principal of the Year."

According to Dr. John T. Rozzo, superintendent of schools, Dr. Beck has been an asset to Upper St. Clair High School, the school district and the greater community. Recently, Dr. Beck was tasked to help lead a district-wide strategic initiative focused on artificial intelligence. 

“As a school leader that always puts students at the forefront of his work, he is highly respected by all constituents,” Dr. Rozzo said. “Dr. Beck’s recent leadership on the district's artificial intelligence initiative is one of many examples where the trust and confidence we have in him are evident.” 

Much of Dr. Beck’s leadership efforts are centered on establishing and nurturing a school community where students feel a sense of belonging. He supports various student programs that focus on well-being and safety, including the school’s student support services team, ninth-grade student mentoring, Student Council, and No Place for Hate. In addition, he contributes to academic programs, including the school’s Leadership Academy, Peer-Tutoring, SmartDesk, and the District’s curriculum recommendations. 

Dr. Beck humbly attributes this Assistant Principal of the Year recognition to the Upper St. Clair education community.

“This recognition is a reflection of the dedication of outstanding colleagues, an active student body, engaged parents, and a supportive community,” Dr. Beck said.

Beyond Upper St. Clair High School, he engages with the local and national education community to apply research into practice to impact school policy. He is currently partnering with the University of Pittsburgh to improve supports for neurodivergent students across the country with the Schools Unified in Neurodiversity (SUN) program and is a representative for Education Next, a group of educational stakeholders working to advance student success and policy in Pennsylvania public education. 

“All of these efforts exemplify his leadership philosophy, which is to build relationships to give students a voice in forming their own school culture and have a positive high school experience,” Dr. Timothy Wagner, Upper St. Clair High School principal, said. 

In her letter of support, Dr. Amy Pfender, deputy superintendent, described Dr. Beck as a leader who students, families, staff and the community rely on, respect and trust.

“Dr. Beck continually demonstrates extraordinary commitment to creating inclusive and supportive learning environments,” Dr. Pfender said. “He fosters a culture of collaboration and respect, ensuring that everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute to the school’s culture.”

According to Ben Seewald, president of the high school’s senior class, Dr. Beck is involved in many aspects of student life – making him both accessible and relatable.

“I have watched Dr. Beck in the audience while I perform in the school choir, been greeted by him and his family after they watched the school musical, and I have seen Dr. Beck cheer for our sports teams and players and greet students in the hallways, always addressing all students by name,” Ben said. “Dr. Beck is extremely supportive of students and this support creates an environment where all students feel respected and valued and are ready to learn.”

Dr. Beck served as a presenter at the National ASCD Annual Conference. His presentation, titled “Leading a Cultural Shift through Student Voice and Empowerment,” discussed the importance of including student perspectives in decisions to shape change at school.

“I believe that students from all backgrounds need to be empowered to create change with opportunities to share their views and voice,” Dr. Beck said. “By embedding these practices into the school’s leadership framework, students have a more active role in school policies and cultural norms, ensuring their unique needs are met and their voices amplified.”

In addition to his work as an assistant principal, Dr. Beck serves in a variety of leadership roles within the greater educational community. He previously served as a board member of the Pennsylvania Association of Student Councils and the Pennsylvania Principals Association. He was the first to hold the Principals Association’s assistant principal at-large position when it was initially established in 2018. 

Dr. Beck joined the Upper St. Clair High School leadership staff in 2013. Previously, he taught secondary English in the Greensburg Salem School District and the Berlin Brothers Valley School District. He earned his doctorate and undergraduate degrees from Duquesne University and a master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh.

Dr. Beck is now in consideration to be named the National Assistant Principal of the Year. Each of the 50 states will select an assistant principal to represent their state. From these state winners, three finalists are selected to become eligible for the National Assistant Principal of the Year award.

A resident of Upper St. Clair, Dr. Beck and his wife, Kelly, have two young children, Carter and Lyla.