Diocese Names New Principal of Greensburg Central Catholic Junior-Senior High School

GREENSBURG – Dr. Nancy Rottler, Superintendent of Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Greensburg, announced today that Mrs. Theresa Szmed has been named principal of Greensburg Central Catholic Junior-Senior High School, effective January 2024. Mrs. Szmed has served as principal of Mother of Sorrows School, Murrysville, since 2016.

“Mrs. Szmed is uniquely qualified to assume this new role because of her career-long dedication to Catholic education, her experience and training in K-12 administration, and her keen focus on faculty development,” said Dr. Rottler.

Mrs. Szmed, a Delmont resident, is a parishioner of St. John Baptist de La Salle Parish. She has been a teacher and administrator for more than 30 years. Mrs. Szmed has a master’s degree in education and a K-12 education and administration certificate from Duquesne University. She earned her bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Pittsburgh after graduating from the former Divine Providence Academy in Pittsburgh.

Mrs. Szmed is keenly focused on faculty development, as she implemented Rigor for All sessions which provide roadmaps necessary to immediately increase rigor in any lesson. Additionally, she launched a research-based framework that emphasizes collaborative leadership and the creation of an innovative school culture called Future Ready Schools. She also brought about the StrengthsFinder assessment for faculty, which is a personal development tool that builds a more cohesive faculty.

During her tenure, those academic advancements have helped to increase enrollment at Mother of Sorrows School by 30%.

Mrs. Szmed has devoted her entire career to Catholic education. She served as principal of St. John the Baptist School in Plum, where she taught middle school science and held the position of program director for 16 years. She also taught middle school science at St. Raphael School in Pittsburgh and middle school English at St. Joseph School in Verona.

During the search for a new principal at Mother of Sorrows School, Mrs. Patricia Visnick has been named interim principal. Mrs. Visnick has been a teacher in the Diocese of Greensburg for 18 years, five of them at Mother of Sorrows School, serving as a 6^th grade teacher, kindergarten teacher, and assistant principal. Serving as interim assistant principal will be Mrs. Mary Osche, who has held the position of Spanish teacher since 2000.

“Both of these individuals know and love the school community deeply, and I know they are committed to the continuing success of MOSS,” Dr. Rottler said.