Richland Elementary Principal to Leave for Plum Borough School District Job

Principal Dr. Guy Rossi will be leaving his job in January to become the assistant superintendent in the Plum Borough School District.

The Plum Borough School Board hired Rossi and . His contract begins Jan. 2 and ends Dec. 31, 2014. He will be paid $107,000 annually.

Rossi said Wednesday that he was excited about the new opportunity, but sad at the thought of leaving.

"I will do everything I can to ensure a smooth transition," Rossi said. 

"Guy is a fantastic instructional leader and worthy of this promotion," Pine-Richland Superintendent Dr. Mary Bucci said. "We will miss him dearly."

Rossi came to Richland Elementary 10 years ago "almost to the day," he said, to support Principal Robert Cooper at a time when the school district was deciding how to deal with a growing population.

Cooper was instrumental in envisioning and opening Eden Hall Upper Elementary in 2008 for grades 4-6 and serving as its principal before retiring this year.

Rossi became the principal of Richland Elementary in 2008 when Richland became a primary school for kindergarten through third grade.

"When Eden Hall was built, Richland came together as a primary school," Rossi said. "We're proud of creating a warm, supportive, caring environment for the children."

Before his promotion to principal, Rossi was Richland Elementary's assistant principal for seven years, according to Pine-Richland School District's website.

"I can't say enough about Richland Elementary," said Rossi, adding that he will miss the day-to-day dealings with the children and seeing their smiling faces.

He praised the children and their families, the quality of the teachers, and the way the staff has responded to every initiative presented to them.

Rossi also said he was proud of the student achievements at the school.

The change in leadership comes at a a time when the Pine-Richland School District is looking at ways to reapportion the population at its primary schools.

Richland currently has the largest student population with 504.  Elementary's population is 415 and 331 students are enrolled at .   

Prior to Richland Elementary, Rossi worked in the New Brighton Area School District as an elementary and middle school reading specialist as well as a first-grade teacher. Prior to that, he taught seventh and eighth grade at St. John Catholic School, according to Pine-Richland School District's website.

Rossi received his bachelor's degree in elementary education from Geneva College and earned his reading specialist certification and master’s degree in reading from Slippery Rock University. In 2007, he earned his doctorate of education and Superintendent Letter of Eligibility from the University of Pittsburgh.

In the Plum Borough School District, Rossi will succeed Timothy Glasspool, who becomes the new superintendent in January.