Modern Moves: A School Superintendent's View

Recently, I was driving through Eastern Ohio after my son's hockey tournament when something struck me: the landscape was full of shut-down and abandoned steel mills—massive buildings that once stood as symbols of strength and prosperity, now silent and forgotten. The sight stayed with me. It made me ask, What happened to all of them? So, I researched it. And what I found was not just a history lesson-it was a warning. Those mills didn’t fail because people stopped working hard. They collapsed because leadership failed to adapt. Because systems stayed rigid while the world changed around them. They ignored innovation, dismissed new global realities, and clung to "the way we’ve always done it." That refusal to evolve led to their downfall. And then it hit me: we're in danger of repeating that same pattern in education. Schools that: Ø   Resist innovation because “this is how we’ve always done it” Ø   Operate in silos without real collaboration Ø   Ignore ...

Innovation on a Budget: Reimagining Immersive Learning at Monessen As a school district committed to innovation, equity, and opportunity, we are always seeking ways to bring cutting-edge educational tools to our students—tools that can engage, inspire, and better prepare them for the world beyond our walls. One exciting vision we’ve had is the development of an immersive learning room —a space where walls, floors, and ceilings could become part of a fully interactive digital environment. Imagine walking through ancient Rome, exploring the human body, or diving deep into marine ecosystems—right from our own school building. It's an idea that captured the imagination of many of us, and rightly so. The educational potential is thrilling. However, after careful review and cost analysis , we’ve hit a sobering reality: the immersive room is extremely expensive , and unfortunately, it comes with no built-in curriculum. This means that after spending a large sum on the infrastructure, ...

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monessen School District Joins Forces with River Valley to Launch Transformational AI Grant Initiative Yourway AI Grant Expands to Empower Monessen Educators and Students Through Strategic Regional Partnership Monessen, PA – The Monessen School District is proud to announce it has been officially approved to join the groundbreaking Yourway AI Grant initiative through a regional partnership with River Valley School District. This strategic collaboration marks a bold step forward for public education in Western Pennsylvania, bringing artificial intelligence-driven tools and personalized learning solutions to Monessen classrooms. Awarded initially to River Valley School District as the first national pilot site, the $1 million Yourway AI Grant aims to revolutionize K–12 education by supporting instructional equity, reducing teacher workload, and enhancing student engagement through advanced AI technologies. As a newly approved partner, Monessen will begi...

More Than Just Games: Building Our Future with an E-Games & Cybersecurity Lab By Dr. Robert Motte, Superintendent of Schools  This summer, our district is taking a bold step into the future with the launch of a new E-Games and Cybersecurity Lab, part of our ongoing renovations to modernize learning spaces and expand student opportunities. Why invest in something connected to video games? Because we’re not just talking about playing games — we’re talking about designing them, analyzing them, and protecting the systems that support them. The video game industry is no longer a niche hobby; it’s a global powerhouse, expected to surpass $40 billion in revenue this year alone in the U.S. It represents one of the fastest-growing and most innovative sectors in technology. Our lab will serve as a launchpad for students to explore careers in: Video game design and development Coding and software engineering Digital art and animation Cybersecurity and ethical hacking Streaming and co...

  Greyhound Express for Success: Driving Positive Behavior Beyond the Bus This school year, we proudly launched a new PBIS initiative on our elementary bus runs called the Greyhound Express for Success—and it’s been a game-changer for our students, staff, and drivers. We believe the school day begins the moment a student boards the bus and ends when they arrive home safely. That’s why we extended our PBIS efforts to one of the most important environments our students experience each day: the school bus. The Greyhound Express Takes Off Led by our outstanding bus drivers and our dedicated Elementary Principal, Mr. Manko, this initiative promotes safe, respectful, and responsible behavior from the moment students step onto the Greyhound Express. I would also like to thank Ms. Gina Naccarato for her help with developing this program. Our PBIS expectations for the bus include: Be Safe — Stay in your seat at all times Be Respectful — Use kind words and show respect to others; no sweari...

  Unleashing Potential: The Greyhound Learner Profile By Dr. Robert Motte At Monessen, we know that great teaching starts with truly understanding who our students are—not just academically, but behaviorally, socially, and emotionally. That’s why we’ve developed the Greyhound Learner Profile , a practical and powerful tool that gives our faculty and staff deeper insight into every student we serve. The Greyhound Learner Profile is built around three key contributors: RISAC Code The RISAC Code identifies students’ dominant learning and thinking styles. Whether a student thrives through reflection, interaction, structure, action, or creativity, this framework equips our educators to adjust instruction to match how students process information best. E-Colors  This personality tool helps us understand how students approach learning, relationships, and challenges. E-Colors (e.g., Red for action-driven, Blue for empathetic, Yellow for social, Green for structured) foster aw...