School board hires 3 new assistant elementary principals

The North Hills School District Board of Education on June 13 approved the hiring of several key positions including three new assistant principals to work in our elementary schools this upcoming school year.

Meredith Cooper has been hired to work at Ross Elementary School, Colleen Frankel at Highcliff Elementary School and Brooke Ustazewski at McIntyre Elementary School.

Meredith Cooper comes to the North Hills from the Allegheny Valley School District where she’s taught elementary and special education since 2017. Prior to, she worked at the Riverside Beaver County School District teaching special education, physical education and inclusion from 2006 through 2017.

Cooper attended Lock Haven University for her undergraduate and Duquesne University for her master’s. She holds her principal’s certification from Point Park University.

Colleen Frankel joins North Hills from the Sto-Rox School District where she has served as assistant principal since 2022. She previously taught elementary school in both the Hampton and Gateway school districts.

Frankel attended Penn State University for elementary education and has a master’s degree in education from the University of Pittsburgh. She holds her principal's certification from Duquesne University and a doctorate degree in education from Point Park University.

Brooke Ustazewski wrapped up the school year teaching fifth grade at Highcliff Elementary School, a position she has held since 2017. She previously taught English at Westmoreland Community College from 2014 to 2016 and at Frederick Douglas Elementary School in Philadelphia from 2004 to 2008.

Ustazewski attended the University of PIttsburgh for her undergraduate degree and also holds her principal’s certification from Pitt.

Copper, Frankel and Ustazewski’s first day with the district will be July 31.