Hippert set to retire as AIU executive director
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
When Linda Hippert was approached nearly a decade ago about applying to become the executive director of the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, she said she only understood the agency’s role from the viewpoint of a district superintendent.
The AIU provides specialized services to Allegheny County’s 42 suburban school districts, offering support in the form of professional development for educators, administrative services, special education, speech and occupational therapy and more.
“I learned how valuable the AIU was not only to the county and the region, but also in the Commonwealth,” said Ms. Hippert, who left her role as the superintendent of South Fayette School District to lead the AIU in 2009. “It really excited me to expand the knowledge that I had and to work with the 42 superintendents in Allegheny County, which indeed over these past nine years has been an honor and a privilege.”
Ms. Hippert is retiring July 20 after nine years as executive director of the AIU. Rosanne Javorsky, currently the agency’s assistant executive director for teaching and learning, will serve as the interim executive director while the AIU board of directors conductsa search for a permanentnew leader.
“What I hope has happened over the years (I’ve been here) is that it doesn’t matter what position that you have within the organization, it is important that you contribute and you generate change,” Ms. Hippert said this week.
During her tenure, Ms. Hippert said the AIU has become leaner, and its departments in charge of finances and programming work more closely to monitor revenues and expenses.
The agency saw some financial troubles about three years ago, forcing it to eliminate numerous positions as enrollment declined and its reserve fundsdwindled.
At the same time, the board came under fire for its spending on travel, food and bonuses for top administrators.
“I think any organization, small or large, but particularly ours because we’re so large, when a new leader comes in there’s always some type of change,” Ms. Hippert said. “One thing that I believed in that was also a vision of the board that hired me, and continued to be a vision, is to create a level of transparency in this organization, particularly with ourschool districts.
“Ithink that is one of the things that has changed where we communicate things in a clearer way and moretransparent way.”
In the past nine years, the AIU also has made efforts to expand its offerings and meet the changing needs of the diverse districts across Allegheny County.
Ms. Javorsky, who has been at the AIU for about 30 years, spearheaded a number of initiatives and collaborations between the agency, school districts, foundations and other partners.
Ms. Javorksy will assume her new role as interim director on July 21. Ms. Hippert will join the faculty at Point Park University’s Department of Education.