School Board Hires New Assistant Superintendent

The Peters Township Board of Education has selected a new assistant superintendent to succeed Anthony Merante, who retired at the end of June.

Named Monday night to the post was Patricia Kardambikis, who will assume the title "assistant to the superintendent for curriculum, instruction and assessment." She will receive a salary of $107,000.

The board also hired Christian Lesnett as an assistant principal at . He will join the staff of , who assumed her duties as new principal prior to the end of the school year.

The action came at a special meeting of the board where a number of staff appointments were made. Also hired was Tina Tolkacevic, as new director of special education.

Two special education teachers, a special education and IST teacher and a social studies teacher, were also hired during Monday’s meeting.

Kardambikis has been director of curriculum and student achievement at Aliquippa High School since 2008.

She received her bachelor’s degree in nursing, and a master’s degree in health education from Penn State University. She received her degree in secondary guidance and counseling from Slippery Rock University, and received her doctorate of philosophy for curriculum and instruction from Kent State University. Kardambikis received her Principal Certification (K-12) and Superintendent’s Letter of Eligibility from Westminster College.

She will join the central office staff at the beginning of the new school year.

Lesnett comes to Peters Township High School after serving as assistant principal at North Hills Junior High School, and as assistant principal at Burgettstown Area High School.  

He taught social studies for six years at Woodside High School in Virginia. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history, with a concentration and certification in secondary and social studies education. He also has a master’s degree in K-12 administration from The College of William & Mary.

Tolkacevic most recently served as special education supervisor for the Allegheny County Intermediate Unit. She also spent six years as a special education teacher for PA Learners Online.

She holds her bachelor’s degree in elementary and special education from Clarion University. She received her master's of education degree in instruction and learning from the University of Pittsburgh.

Tolkacevic is certified in elementary and mid-level mathematics, and English. She is also certified for mental and/or physical handicapped special education and as supervisor of special education.

She is expected to join the central office staff prior to the beginning of the school year.