Feb 5, 2015 3 min read

Thomas J. Samosky, formerly principal of student affairs at Chartiers Valley High School, was chosen as the new principal at Trinity High School.

The Trinity Area School Board unanimously approved hiring Samosky at a salary of $112,000, prorated, during Monday’s agenda meeting.

He will replace Donald Snoke, who was named the district’s assistant superintendent in December.

“I am very excited about joining Trinity Area School District and I look forward to meeting the students, staff, and parents,” said Samosky. “Trinity has a wonderful reputation and I am thrilled about being part of their high school team.”

Samosky earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mercyhurst College where he majored in Criminal Justice and earned a minor in Spanish.

After graduation, worked as a certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor and basketball coach for court adjudicated young men at The Academy Schools in Pittsburgh.

Samosky said he realized he had a deep passion for educating youth, so he earned a Master of Education Degree from the University of Pittsburgh and then taught special education at Bethel Park High School. He completed his Principal’s Certification and served as dean of discipline and assistant principal at Bethel Park before moving to Chartiers Valley High School, where he spent the last nine years as assistant principal, co-principal and principal of student affairs K-12.

He lives in Cecil Townshipwith his wife, Gina, and their three children, Sera, Tommy and Jacob.

In another matter, the school board unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding with Trinity Area Education Association.

Last year, the teachers’ union agreed to hold off on certain salaries and benefits until 2015, which enabled the school district to finish the current school year in the black.

Also Monday, members of the Trinity JROTC presented a State of the Hillers Battalion Address, outlining the students’ accomplishments.

Cadet Maj. Hailey Spears, a senior who plans to attend West Virginia University and major in criminal justice, listed several achievements, including a third-place finish at 2014’s Raider Team physical fitness program, which combines physical and mental activities; donated 1,500 hours of community service that included assisting local veterans organizations and volunteering at the Washington Senior Center; participated in Support the Troops events and collected more than 1,000 Christmas cards to send to soldiers.

She said the JROTC “brought about a total transformation” in her and the battalion “has taught me to be the person I am today by allowing me the privilege of of being a leader and having many responsibilities.”

Dana Ledger, a fifth-grade teacher at Trinity South, thanked the battalion for their work within the district. Cadets participate in a mentor tutoring program offered at all of the elementary schools and the middle school, where they assist students with academics and provide friendship. Some accompanied Trinity South’s fifth-graders on trout release day, serving as buddies and extra chapreones, and assisted Family Fun Night.

Launched in 2013, Trinity’s JROTC program is the only one in Washington County. It is led by U.S. Army Maj. (Retired) Erek Clacks and U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major (Retired) David P. Masullo. The school’s JROTC curriculum follows guidelines set by the U.S. Army.

“The purpose of the JROTC is to foster character education, student acheivement, wellness, leadership and diversity,” said Ledger. “One of the main goals is to produce successful students and citizens, and from my first-hand experiences, I’m happy to report to you that our JROTC program is doing just that, for themselves and the younger children.”