Miale looks back on 38-year career
The photos tucked into his wallet say a lot about Dr. Harry Miale. The Brownsville Area School District outgoing assistant superintendent remembers the day vividly as an elementary school principal when two of his students perished in a fire.
“I carry the pictures of those two children with me,” said Miale, who was principal at the time of Gastinville Elementary near Finleyville. “They passed away during my time there. It affected me, and I will never forget it.”
Miale will never forget a lot of things that have happened during his 38-year career in education, which ended on June 30 with his retirement. His goal was to always get to administration, even with his start as a maintenance worker sweeping out school buses during a summer job while in college.
After graduating with a teaching degree from Waynesburg College in 1973, Miale taught in the Ringgold School District. He went on to become the head teacher at Donora Elementary School and eventually the principal there. He then moved to the principal position at Gastinville Elementary. During that time, he served as the boys basketball coach.
“This is when I lived the longest two weeks of my life,” Miale said. “The teachers went on strike at Ringgold, and I became the middle school girls basketball coach as well.”
After 27 years in the Ringgold School District, Miale moved to the Canon McMillan School District, where he worked as a principal and director of federal programs.
Six years ago, Miale found his way to Brownsville in the position he refers to as “the best career move I have ever made.”
“I always aspired to work in the administration office and this was my chance to do that,” Miale continued. “I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”
Miale said he followed his heart when it came time to make the decision to retire. When he looks back on his career, he sees many differences and some mainstays in education.
“It has changed dramatically in the last 10 years with the infusion of educational technology like computers and data-driven decision making,” he said. “But I saw good teachers in 1973 and the same kind of good teachers today who are all doing the same thing – caring for children and wanting them to succeed.”
Dr. Philip Savini, Brownsville superintendent, said Miale has done an exceptional job and will be missed, not only by the staff and students, but by the parents as well.
“His passion to help the children in the Brownsville School District become better prepared for their future academically as well as becoming community leaders has been impressive,” Savini said.
Miale plans to teach as an adjunct professor at a regional university beginning this fall. He is also a volunteer grief counselor for children with an agency in Pittsburgh.
He said his “bucket” list consists of home maintenance and adding to his baseball stadium visits, currently at 12. He also plans to spend time with his daughter, Angela Miale, and her husband, Mike Albert, and their children Ellie, 4, and Henry, 1, all of Des Moines, Iowa.
“During your career, you always look forward to retirement. When the day finally comes, you understand why people cry when they give their speeches,” he said. “It’s exciting to venture into something new. But it’s hard to leave your comfort zone. But I know in my heart, it’s time to leave.”
Prepared to take the reigns is the district’s new assistant superintendent Linda Marcolini, who officially took her seat July 1.
“I feel as though my calling is here. It’s the kind of area that I like to work in,” Marcolini said. “I am happy to take a break from the city climate and start another new chapter in my educational life.”
Marcolini began her journey to Brownsville in the Pittsburgh public schools for 16 years as a teacher. While teaching, she served as the health and physical education instructor, curriculum writer and human relations teacher for the multi-cultural program.
She attended California University of Pennsylvania to obtain her principal certification, after which she was hired in the Woodland Hills School District. While in that position, she continued her studies at Cal U to achieve her superintendent certification.
According to Savini, Marcolini served as the executive director of Auberle, a McKeesport-based agency that offers residential and foster care, emergency shelter, in-home intervention and education and community programs for abused, neglected and troubled children.
He said Marcolini has a strong background in special needs, staff development and curriculum and will be responsible for special education, federal programs, grant writing, Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) 4Sight benchmark testing and data collection and distribution among other tasks.
“I have a lot of district-wide initiatives. I want to drive the PSSA scores up higher,” she said. “While I am here, I want to roll my sleeves up and get to know the community and different organizations and really work with the people in the community.”
Marcolini has been married for 26 years to John Marcolini. They have two children, Andrea Marcolini, a freshman at Cal U, and Anthony Marcolini, a Robert Morris University graduate with a degree in business administration.
Marcolini, who grew up in Mount Pleasant and graduated from Greensburg Salem High School, said she had enjoyed traveling through the Brownsville area when attending college and she and her family are considering a move from their South Fayette Township home.
“Wherever I go, I really, really work hard to make changes. It has always been my dream to go up the educational ladder and come to a smaller, rural area,” she said. “My dream has come true.”