Our Founders

Joanne Cecchi

 Education

• 2000: Post-Graduate Studies in Educational Administration to acquire Superintendent's Letter of Eligibility, University of Pittsburgh

• 1979: Master's Degree in Education, University of Pittsburgh

• 1976: Bachelor of Science Degree in Education, Graduated Cum Laude, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

• 1974: Associate Degree in Applied Science, Westmoreland County Community College. Honored as Distinguished Alumni, 1986

Professional Experience

• Assistant Superintendent, New Kensington-Arnold School District, 2003-2008

• High School Principal, Valley High School, New Kensington-Arnold School District, 1997-2002

• Assistant Principal, Valley High School, New Kensington-Arnold School District, 1993-1997

• Instructor, Westmoreland County Community College, 1979-1990

• Business Education Teacher and Department Chair, Valley High School, New Kensington-Arnold School District, 1976-1993

Awards

• KDKA Hometown Hero  Award Recipient, 2023

• Lions Club International, 25 years of service to Lionism Award - 2023

• AARP 2021 Community Service Award for outstanding service to AARP and Joanne's efforts to improve her community.  Recognized for "the tremendous gifts of time and talent."

• Volunteer of the Year, 2016-17, by Alle-Kiski Valley Chapter of PA Association of School Retirees  - for logging over 1600 hours with Project SEED

• Paul Harris Fellow - awarded by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International for Project SEED community service  June, 2014

• Melvin Jones Fellow - awarded by Lions Clubs International Foundation for Outstanding Humanitarian Service - August, 2014

• NAACP Allegheny-Kiski Valley, John C. Lovelace Human Rights Award, October, 2014, for initiating Project SEED

• Glimmer of Hope Award Recipient - American Cancer Society 2012

Community Service/Volunteerism

• Member of UPMC Patient & Family Advisory Council,     St. Margaret Hospital, Aspinwall, PA 

• Board Member & Treasurer, Alle-Kiski Senior Citizen Center, New Kensington, PA  

• Member of Westmoreland County Community College Alumni Committee for current Capital Fund Project

• Fund-raiser & Committee Member, Alle-Kiski Relay for Life, American Cancer Society

• Advisory Board Member, Westmoreland County Community College, Alle-Kiski Center

• Member, PA Association of School Retirees

• Member, New Kensington Lions Club

• Graduate of Leadership Alle-Kiski Valley (LAKV Class 7). Elected as class representative to the LAKV Board of Directors

Ruth Carson

(1945-2016)

Education

• 1976: Received Reading Specialist Certification from Indiana University of Pennsylvania

• 1972: Graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania with Master of Education Degree

• 1966: Graduate of Clarion University with Bachelor of Science in Education Degree

• 1962: Graduate of Springdale High School

Professional Experience

• 42.5 Years (January 1966 – June 2008) as an Educator in the New Kensington-Arnold School District as Head Start Summer School Teacher, Classroom Teacher Grades 4-6, Kindergarten Teacher, Reading Specialist Grades 1-9, and Federal Project Coordinator

Awards

• 2015 Volunteer of the Year, Alle-Kiski Chapter of PA Association of School Retirees

• Inducted to the Allegheny Valley School District Alumni Hall of Fame for outstanding community service and humanitarian efforts, April, 2015

• Paul Harris Fellow - awarded by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International for Project SEED community service - June, 2014

• NAACP Allegheny-Kiski Valley, John C. Lovelace Human Rights Award, October, 2014, for initiating Project SEED

• Children’s Champion Award – United Way of Westmoreland County – March 2005

Innovative Projects

• Parent/Child Created Summer Reading Tips with Comcast TV

• Exciting Summer Reading Program

• Title 1 Pre-K Program with strong Head Start Collaboration

• Even Start Program with collaboration with the Private Industry Council, Valley Point YMCA, and Alle-Kiski Learning Center

• Pre-K Counts Program Community Collaboration with Early Childcare Providers

Passions

• Conducted a Community Bible Study Group each Monday Night for 13 years

• Aunt Ruth to nieces Julie and Jen, nephew Jason, great nieces Brook & Emma and great nephews Zack, Parker, Nate, James, Lucas, and Joshua

Most Admired Educator

• Marian Wright Edelman, a lifelong advocate for disadvantaged Americans and President of the Children’s Defense Fund