New PT principals look to future
Peters Township Middle School principal Adam Sikorski.
Peters Township High School assistant principal Jason Marvin.
McMURRAY – Adam Sikorski and Jason Marvin knew they had one very important thing in common. The newly hired administrators in Peters Township School District share a love of learning. And as the two recently chatted in Sikorski’s middle school office, the pair discovered that away from the job they also share similar ideas – they both put family first and love the outdoors.
Sikorski began his duties as the middle school principal July 15 following the resignation of longtime principal Robert Freado. His annual salary is $101,000. Marvin is the new assistant principal at the high school overseeing students in their junior and senior years. His annual salary was set at $82,000.
Before joining the Peters Township staff, Sikorski, who lives in Robinson Township, was principal of Pittsburgh Colfax. In that capacity, he knew Jeannine French, who once worked in the Pittsburgh School District and who is now the Peters superintendent. Colfax, under Sikorski’s direction, is the highest-performing kindergarten to eighth-grade school in the city system.
Marvin, a Peters Township resident for the past five years, was the assistant principal at Ringgold High School.
As to why Sikorski left the Pittsburgh school after serving as principal for four years to join Peters Township Middle School, he said, “It’s a really rising district.”
The middle school was named a prestigious Blue Ribbon School last year.
Sikorski said he enjoys working with the middle school students. “It’s the time when they still are very eager to learn and they see themselves as part of a broader community,” Sikorski said.
Marvin said he decided to move to the township for several reasons.
“It’s a strong community and strong schools, and we wanted to be part of the community,” Marvin said.
Marvin once worked as a special education teacher in Brownsville Area School District, where he also served as the dean of students. But, education was not his initial career choice – he earned a bachelor’s degree in special education from California University of Pennsylvania and an associate’s degree from Muskingum Area Technical College in occupational therapy. While working as an occupational therapist for four years at the Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh, Marvin discovered he loved to teach.
Taking the time to learn a new system is Sikorski’s priority now, along with what he called his “mission” of learning the name of every one of the 700 students in the middle school. So far, he’s doing quite well.
On the other hand, Marvin laughed, “I’m not going to try to learn the names of 1,500 students at the high school.”
“I have had an overwhelming amount of support from everyone, from the central office to the community to the parents and staff,” Sikorski said of his first few months on the job and of the ease of transition. “I feel very fortunate.”
Marvin and Sikorski agreed parents should know the students come first.
“Parents need to know I am very interested in developing a relationship with families,” Sikorski said.
“I want (parents) to know I am approachable,” Marvin added.
Away from the district, Sikorski spends time with his wife, Bonita, and their 6-month-old daughter, Mila. He enjoys being active and has run a few marathons and half-marathons, which he is doing in a few weeks. Reading choices lean toward historical biographies and U.S. history.
Marvin, an avid hunter who loves the outdoors, is anticipating the opening day of deer season.
“Foremost, it’s my wife and children,” Marvin said of his wife, Jaime, son Noah, 13, and daughter Jillian, 10.
Both are active in their churches.
As for the future, Marvin said that being competitive, he will strive to make Peters Township the top school district in the state.
“My goals are to sustain the high level of achievement at the middle school and to take it to the next step,” Sikorski said.