New assistant principal, communications specialist latest school board hires
Fajt, Payne backed by superintendent
The Plum Borough school board has hired Maria Fajt to be assistant principal for Oblock Junior High School and Holiday Park Elementary School.
“Ms. Fajt has been serving students, families, and communities since 2001 at different places along the East Coast,” said Superintendent Brendan Hyland. “Ms. Fajt is a graduate of both Hempfield Area Senior High School and Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in elementary education.”
Ms. Fajt worked as a teacher and academic facilitator for both the School District of Palm Beach County and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, the superintendent said.
He added that she worked as a dean of instruction and participated in the Emerging Leaders Program at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools, and trained with The Teachers’ College at Columbia University and Ms. Payne is a native of Relay Graduate School of Monroeville and came to Education in New York the district from Duluth, City with Paul BamGa., where she launched brickSantoyo. and built a branding firm
Mr. Hyland said Ms. that specialized in search Fajt served as an academic engine marketing and visual/ adviser and adjunctgraphic design while instructor at Westmoreland serving as an adjunct marketing County Comm instructor at Indiana u n i t y College and Wesleyan University. worked most recently as Reading from a statement, a literacy academic coach Mr. Hyland said “I for the Pittsburgh Public am confident Ms. Payne’s Schools. expertise as a marketing
During her years away consultant will translate from the Pittsburgh area, effectively in our efforts she earned a master’s degree to build stronger teams, in organizational better processes and enhance leadership from Gonzaga our ability to communicate University and also pursued all the wonderful a school administration things that are happening degree from the in the Plum Borough University of North Carolina School District in a in Charlotte. more modern fashion.”
Ms. Fajt will earn $80,000 Ms. Payne is certified per year. in content and email marketing
In the redistricting and is a member of plan taking effect when the Pittsburgh Chapter of school starts, Pivik and the American Marketing Center e l e m e n t a r yAssociation. schools will house students She will earn $51,000 in kindergarten per year. through fourth grade, In other business, the and Holiday Park Elem board voted to enter into e n t a r y School will a three-year lease agreement house students in grades with HP Financials five and six. to provide Chromebooks
The board also voted to district students in last week to hire Charlene grades nine through 12 at Payne to be executive a cost of $84,079 per year. assistant to the superintendent and district communications specialist.