High School Assistant Principal
Mr. Michael Barlak
Phone: (724) 625-4444, ext. 1601
Pine-Richland High School welcomed a new administrator when the board approved the hiring of Mr. Michael Barlak as an assistant principal at the high school on February 7, 2022.
“I am most excited to become a part of the Pine-Richland community, a community that prioritizes and values its schools,” said Mr. Barlak. “I am excited to collaborate with students and families, become an integral part of the leadership and support structures already in place, and support the culture of excellence that Pine-Richland families take pride in.”
Mr. Barlak joins the high school administrative team from Gateway School District, where he has served as an assistant principal since 2017. He also served as program manager of the mathematics, special education, and physical education departments.
As program manager of the mathematics department, he analyzed growth and projection data to support the development of student and classroom interventions. In the special education department at Gateway High School, he administered individualized student programming and collaborated with families and planning teams.
In addition to administrative responsibilities, he served as the chair of the School Safety Team and Student Assistance Program at Gateway High School.
“Mr. Barlak's background and experiences with leading the mathematics and special education departments at Gateway High School will add immediate value to our high school team,” said Dr. Michael Pasquinelli, assistant superintendent of secondary education and curriculum. “He is a student-centered leader whom we believe will connect and engage with all students.”
Prior, he served as the assistant principal at Moss Middle School, where he developed a mathematics intervention system to help individual students. He taught mathematics at Woodland Hills High School.
Dr. Nancy Bowman, PRHS principal, said the high school administration is looking forward to Mr. Barlak joining the team.
“The high school principals are excited to have Mr. Barlak join the team in leading an amazing staff and student body,” said Dr. Bowman. “Mr. Barlak's experiences as an assistant principal, with a background in math instruction, is a tremendous asset to our school. He is ready to step in and be a collaborative member of the high school team.
Mr. Barlak earned a Bachelor of Science in secondary mathematics education at Youngstown State University, a master’s degree in education from the California University of Pennsylvania School.
