New school years mean new faces . . . but in this case you may already know this “new” face. Mr. Steve Katkich, former assistant principal of Dutch Ridge Elementary School, is the new middle school principal. With Mr. Beltz now gone having accepted a position at Moon, how will Mr. Katkich lead the middle school?

Where did you go to high school?

I attended Aliquippa High School.

Where did you attend college?

For my undergraduate degree, I graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education and special education from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. I again attended Slippery Rock for my Master of Education in special education. Lastly, I received my principal's certification through the University of Pittsburgh.

How long have you been a principal? Were you the principal at another school? If so, which school and where?

Before coming to Beaver Area Middle School, I was the assistant principal at Dutch Ridge Elementary School here in the District. This was my first principal job, and I started it in November 2015.

Is this the job you have always wanted, or did your original path change and lead to being a principal?

Going to college, I always just wanted to be an elementary or a special education teacher. After four years as a teacher, I started to desire to take on more leadership roles to support both students and faculty. In the end, that led me down this path, and I made the change to a principal in my eighth year of teaching.

What is something you want your students to know about you?

I want to work with everyone and help everyone do their very best. Every single person has potential; I want to help not only our wonderful students, but also our dynamic staff reach their full potential.

What is your favorite part of your job?

Getting to work and talk with the students and faculty.

Where did you grow up and did that have an affect on your occupation?

Growing up in Aliquippa did have an impact on my occupation. Going through the Aliquippa School District, I had a lot of really terrific teachers, especially at the elementary level. Once I got to high school, though, I had some teachers that made me want to be a teacher because I wanted to support students the way that I did not see them supporting me or my peers. So, in a sense, I had teachers on both ends of the spectrum who influenced me.

What is the most satisfying part of your job?

The most satisfying part of my job is seeing something be successful, whether that is an academic plan for a student working, a new instructional method or technology being helpful to staff, etc. Even if I am not directly involved in something, it really makes me proud when I see progress and growth for folks here in the district.

If you had the chance to teach, which subject would you pick?

I would probably pick math or ELA. I really enjoy working on and solving problems in math.  For ELA, reading more in my own time is something which has continued to grow on me as I've gotten older.

Who is your biggest inspiration?

My biggest inspiration would have to be my family. They inspire me to be the best I can be daily. I always want to make them proud.

What is one thing you wish your students would take away from you?

To be kind and understanding of one another. None of us are perfect, and we all come with our own life experiences from different walks of life. It is so important that we are just kind and take care of one another. We are all human.

What’s the hardest part of your job?

Having difficult conversations with students who have not given it their best and/or have made poor decisions that result in negative consequences. Talking with them and their families about these decisions is not something I enjoy.

What frustrates you about your job?

When people do not make kind choices or decisions that are the best for themselves or others.

What is a common misconception about your job you’d like to set right?

That I am the big, bad boss. I am here to work with students and help them make the choices best for them as they prepare for high school and beyond. I am here to talk with students, to listen to their needs, and to try and help them in whatever way I can. Likewise, I am here to continue to help the teachers grow and be the best educators that they can be. I want everyone to genuinely enjoy coming to school daily and find it enriching to their life.