Marcy Bebout
Director of Special Education
Marcy Bebout began her career with her Bachelor of Education degree from California University of Pennsylvania in Special Education. She began her teaching career in the Central Greene School District where she taught learning support and life skills at the high school and elementary levels. While teaching, she earned advanced degrees in Special Education Supervision and Principal K-12 from University of Pittsburgh and California University of Pennsylvania. She taught in the Central Greene School District for 15 years before starting her administrative career in the California Area School District as Director of Student Services. Mrs. Bebout’s goal in education is to provide a place where all students can learn and find their purpose.
Outside of school Mrs. Bebout spends time with her husband and two children.
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Dr. Jeff Beltz
Superintendent
In October of 2022, Dr. Jeff Beltz was approved as superintendent for the Hopewell Area School District.
Dr. Beltz possesses over 20 years of experience in educational leadership, serving in a variety of capacities. He spent two years (2020-2022) in the Moon Area School District as assistant superintendent, where he helped the district remain financially solvent and oversaw the alignment of curriculum practices across five elementary schools. Culminating his tenure, McCormick Elementary School received the state’s highest 2021-22 elementary Building-Level Score rated by the Pennsylvania Department of Education's Act 13 Educator Effectiveness system. Dr. Beltz was also instrumental in selecting and supporting newly adopted K-7 mathematics and K-8 English language arts programs through curriculum alignment validation, research-based practices, professional development, and the selection of a supplemental, standards-aligned e-resource. From 2000-2020, Dr. Beltz was employed by the Beaver Area School District. Jeff served his final ten years in the district as middle school principal. There, he led the creation of an enhanced elective program to foster engaging STEM experiences, adjusted the school day to maximize teacher instruction, and implemented a one-to-one iPad initiative for all students. Dr. Beltz also held positions of: assistant principal, dean of students, business education teacher, and head football coach while at Beaver.
In 1999-2000, Dr. Beltz served as the athletic director and transportation coordinator in the Freedom Area School District. Dr. Beltz holds a doctoral degree in educational leadership from Youngstown State University, a master’s degree in business administration from Robert Morris University, and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Geneva College.
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James Cassell
Assistant Elementary Principal
James Cassell is a 2004 graduate of Slippery Rock University, with a secondary education degree in Social Studies and a Minor in Special Education. Mr. Cassell has also earned Master’s degrees in Curriculum/ Instruction from Clarion University, and Educational Leadership/Administration from California University of Pennsylvania. Prior to joining Hopewell Area School District, Mr. Cassell served as the Distance Learning Coordinator at the Westmoreland County Intermediate Unit, Middle and High School Assistant Principal at Brentwood Borough School District, and Middle School Assistant Principal at North Hills School District. When not in school, Mr. Cassell is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys hunting, fishing, atv riding, and riding his Harley Mr. Cassell resides in Moon Township, and is married to his wife Jodi who is a music teacher in the Canon-McMillan School District. He has two sons James and Isaac that love soccer and baseball. Mr. Cassell also has a golden retriever named Louie and a cat named Lawson.
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Louis Ceccarelli
Assistant Principal
Mr. Louis Ceccarelli earned his Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education Social Studies with minors in Political Science and History, followed by a Master's degree in Educational Leadership with a K-12 Principal Certification from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. He began his career at Aliquippa High School in 2001, where he spent three years before moving to Virginia and teaching at Chantilly High School in Fairfax, Virginia, where he was also the varsity baseball coach.
In 2007, Mr. Ceccarelli moved back to Pennsylvania and returned to Aliquippa High School, where he spent the next 13 years of his career.
Mr. Ceccarelli lives in Hopewell Township, with his wife, Robin, and their daughters Isabella and Gianna.
Mr. Ceccarelli is passionate about education and is looking forward to serving the Hopewell Area School District.
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world" Nelson Mandela
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Korri Kane
Principal
Korri Kane has been with the Hopewell Area School District since 2007, as an Assistant Principal at the Junior High, and is currently the Elementary Principal for the district. She is a graduate of both Edinboro University and the University of Phoenix. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Speech and Hearing Disorders and a Master’s Degree in Education. Mrs. Kane is an active member of the PA State and National Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, The International Society for Technology in Education, and National and PA State Association of Elementary School Principals.
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Dr. Robert Kartychak
Senior High School Principal
Dr. Robert Kartychak is currently Hopewell High School’s assistant principal. He has had the privilege of spending his entire professional career in the Hopewell Area School District. Dr. Kartychak's career began as a sixth grade teacher at Hopewell Memorial Junior High School in 2002, and would later serve as a fourth grade teacher and department chairperson at Hopewell Elementary for the final four years of his teaching career. Dr. Kartychak was an elementary assistant principal for six years to begin his administrative journey prior to joining the high school administrative team at the start of the 2020-21 school year. While all facets of education intrigue him, Dr. Kartychak has been particularly interested in how students learn and engage with mathematics.
Dr. Kartychak earned his Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education degree from Clarion University of Pennsylvania in 2001; Masters of Education in Administration and Policy Studies from the University of Pittsburgh in 2006; and his Doctorate in Educational Leadership with Superintendent Letter of Eligibility from Point Park University in 2019. While Dr. Kartychak is not officially Hopewell alumni, he is a proud Viking! He feels it has been a pleasure over his time in Hopewell to have had the opportunity to work in each of the district's five school buildings with the best staff, students, and parents around. When he is not at school, Dr. Kartychak resides nearby with his wife and two sons.
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Edward Katkich
Principal
Mr. Edward Katkich, a 1990 graduate of Aliquippa High
School, obtained his Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education from West
Virginia University. Subsequently, he pursued his Master in Educational
Administration from Youngstown State University. Mr. Katkich is a long
standing member of the National Association of Elementary and Secondary School
Principals (NAESSP), Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary
School Principals (PAESSP), National Association for Supervision and Curriculum
Development (NASCD), and the Pennsylvania Association for Supervision and
Curriculum Development (PASCD). Since 1997, Mr. Katkich has proudly served as an employee
of the Hopewell Area School District. Following a brief, yet rewarding,
five year tenure as a 7th/8th grade geography and social studies educator, Mr. Katkich joined the Hopewell Area School District’s Administrative Team as Jr. High Assistant Principal. In 2005, he was promoted to Junior High Principal and continues to serve the Hopewell Learning Community in this capacity. Throughout his tenure of over 20 years with the Hopewell
Area School District, Mr. Katkich has assisted in the development of the
District’s Strategic, Safety and Special Education Plans. Collaboratively
with staff members, Mr. Katkich has worked to integrate curricular offerings to
include STEAM oriented electives and various other courses focused on the
application of skills gained within the core content. He strongly
believes that as an educational leader one should always listen to the voices
of his/her students. For if you wish to provide an engaging learning
environment, an educational leader needs to decipher the interests of the young
academicians in order to foster a truly meaningful curricula.
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Dr. Joel Roth
Director of Curriculum and Instruction
Dr. Joel Roth arrived at Hopewell Area School District as the Curriculum Director in 2021. He began his career as an educator in the Cherokee County School District in Georgia most recently assuming the role of Assistant Principal (Curriculum) at Woodstock High School. Prior to this position, he was an Instructional Lead Strategist, Mathematics Teacher, and Coach at River Ridge High School. He served the Cherokee County School District for 11 years before returning to his Western Pennsylvania roots. Dr. Roth earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Clarion University in his hometown of Clarion, Pennsylvania. He continued on to obtain a Master’s degree in Teaching and Learning from Nova Southeastern University and a Master’s of Education in Educational Administration and Supervision from Liberty University. He attended Kennesaw State University to study Curriculum, where he earned a Specialist Degree and then a Doctorate of Education in Secondary Education Mathematics.
Outside of school, Dr. Roth is the proud husband to his wife, Brianne and father to their three children Jace, Paige, and Eli. He enjoys spending time with his family outdoors and is an avid Pittsburgh sports fan.
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Donald Short
Athletic Director
Mr. Don Short, Athletic Director/Trainer at Hopewell Area School District has been named Pennsylvania Region IV Athletic Director of
the Year. In 1988, he became a
certified athletic trainer, earning his Athletic Administrator certificate in
2003. Mr. Short was hired as Hopewell
Area School District’s athletic trainer in 1989 and has served as the
district’s athletic director since 2002. Mr. Short is a graduate of Allegheny College and Aliquippa High School. During Mr. Short’s tenure
at Hopewell, he has supervised and coordinated four PIAA and 13 WPIAL team championships
as well as numerous section championships. Mr. Short’s proudest
accomplishment during his 17 years as athletic director was his involvement with
the district’s recently renovated Tony Dorsett Stadium. From its conception to completion, Mr. Short
was actively involved with coordination, overseeing the daily construction. Mr. Short has served as
MAC President from 2011-2013. His
memberships include WPIAL Sports Medicine, PSADA, and has served as WPIAL game
manager for many soccer, football, and volleyball events. Don currently resides in
the Hopewell School District with his wife, Lynn.
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Donna Steff
Student Services Coordinator and Assistant Elementary Principal
Mrs. Donna Steff has been with the Hopewell Area School District since 2004. While currently holding the position of Student Services Coordinator and Assistant Elementary Principal, Mrs. Steff previously taught English Language Arts in both the Junior High and High School at Hopewell. As an ELA teacher at the Jr. High, Mrs. Steff worked to bring multiple opportunities to her students by starting the Eighth Grade Washington, D.C. field trip and sponsoring both the National Junior Honor Society and Yearbook clubs. Mrs. Steff earned her Bachelor of Arts in English and Communications from Robert Morris University as well as her teaching certificate. She continued her education at Clarion University of Pennsylvania with a Masters of Curriculum and Instruction. Most recently, Mrs. Steff earned her principal certificate from Point Park University. Mrs. Steff is a member of the National Council for Teachers of English (NCTE), National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), and the Pennsylvania Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (PASCD). Mrs. Steff strives to offer a variety of educational opportunities to students. Since 2015, Mrs. Steff has led the Hopewell Toy Drive along with two of her colleagues, serving over 160 students in need each December. She is dedicated to integrating resources for students experiencing homelessness and mainstreaming services to students in our community. In addition to working at Hopewell, Mrs. Steff has been on the board of directors for the Adoption Connection of PA since 2018, and volunteers for many youth organizations in Beaver County including Scouts, BSA and the Western Beaver Band Boosters. Outside of school, Mrs. Steff lives in Ohioville and enjoys spending time with her husband, Brian, and son, Braedon, as well as their many pets.
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