Holtzman promoted superintendent

Mark Holtzman Jr. was named superintendent of the McKeesport Area School District effective July 1. The school board voted unanimously to hire Mr. Holtzman at a special meeting March 29. He will replace current superintendent Rula Skezas, who is set to retire at the end of June.

He was awarded a fiveyear contract through June 30, 2022, at an annual salary of $140,000.

“I would just like to say thank you for the confidence in me,” Mr. Holtzman said. “I’m normally not short on words, but today I am. Thank you for the opportunity.”

Mr. Holtzman is currently director of secondary education and teacher evaluation for theMcKeesportAreadistrict.

He has been working in the district for several years, starting as a substitute teacher and homebound instructor in 2004. From 2005 to 2007, Mr. Holtzman was a behavioral specialist and dean of students. From 2010 to 2015 he was principal at McKeesport Area High School. In 2016 he was acting principal at Founders Hall Middle School in the district.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Holtzman had been an adjunct instructor at Westminster College, dean of students and faculty manager at West Mifflin Area High School and an adjunct instructor at Community College of Allegheny County South.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Syracuse University, master’s degrees in educational supervision and secondary education from Duquesne University, and a doctor of education degree from the University of Pittsburgh.

“I know that with me leaving and passing the baton to Mark that the district is going to grow and flourish,” Ms. Skezas said. “I just want to say, ‘I’m very proud of you,’ ” she told Mr. Holtzman at the meeting.