Upper Elementary Assistant Principal Timothy Liparulo.
He may be new to being an administrator, but he is a longtime educator with a proven track record who is ready to roll up his sleeves in Sto-Rox.
Tim Liparulo was hired in March as Assistant Principal of Sto-Rox Upper Elementary. A Butler native, Liparulo is a product of the Butler Area School District, both as a student and an educator. However, Liparulo didn’t pursue teaching as a career after graduating from Butler Area High School. At least, not right away.
“Both of my parents were school teachers,” he explained. “As an 18-year-old boy, trying to create my own image, I said ‘I’m not going into education.’ So I went into pre-physical therapy, pre-med, that type of thing.”
Liparulo studied - and played soccer - at St. Francis University. During his graduate work in Exercise Science at Ball State University, though, he discovered he was suited for education after all.
“I realized that I really enjoyed working with students and kids a whole lot more than I liked working with adult patients,” he said.
It may have taken a little soul-searching, as Liparulo puts it, but he eventually found his true calling. He returned to the classroom, this time at West Virginia University, to pursue a Master’s degree in education. After that, it was time to come home.
“It was just a matter of getting my first job, which was at Butler teaching in an afterschool program,” he said. “It was called the Pupils at Risk program, teaching kids who - for one reason or another - couldn’t attend school during the school day.”
Liparulo, left, posing for a photo with Primary Center Assistant Principal Colleen Frankel, the Easter Bunny, and K-6 Principal Heather Johnston.
Liparulo taught science, emotional support science and served as a mentor for the path-to-graduation program “Check and Connect” that is fully coming to Sto-Rox next year. He enjoyed his time in Butler, though he eventually realized it was time for a new challenge.
“At one point I realized I could make a bigger impact on my students if I were to go into administration and impact students in my classroom and building-wide,” he explained. “Working with teachers is also something I loved doing. I love seeing teachers grow. I had several student teachers (in Butler) and served as a faculty mentor.”
So, the question begs: why make the move to Sto-Rox?
“The one thing I was looking for was the community surrounding the school,” he explained. “Sto-Rox, the McKees Rocks area, always had a rich tradition where the people were passionate about their community. That usually sets up a scenario where you’re going to have parents who support what you’re doing in the classroom and the building.”
Liparulo was also looking for a new home as he took on his first administrative role. Now that he has found it, he is working on connecting with parents just as much he does with the students he sees every day.
“I want to establish communication with parents as much as possible so that we can better develop relationships to meet the needs of their children,” he explained.
The new assistant principal’s focus in the short-term is getting up to speed with every facet of the job. One of his top goals is simple, but broad.
“Getting to know everybody,” he said. “Getting to know all my teachers, getting to know the families, and finding out what their needs are and wishes are within the school.”
Liparulo speaking with a teacher.
Following Liparulo around the Upper Elementary halls in mid-April, it’s clear to see he enjoys a quick chat with a student - and - making sure he learns their name before he leaves. As for the long-term goals, he knows he needs to focus on the people that make Sto-Rox what it is.
“Take the proud tradition and the proud history within this community and bring it into the school, and be able to implement things within this building that are able to meet all of our students’ needs, keep them safe and keep the community engaged as much as possible.”
That includes continued use of programs like PBIS - Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports - which incentivizes positive behavior by students inside and outside the classroom. Liparulo has worked on that program in Butler for the past four years. Coming up this summer, Liparulo and the district leadership team will work on initiatives to make the quality of life better for students in the Upper Elementary and across the district.
“We want Sto-Rox to be a place where parents are proud to send their kids.”
With a caring career educator like Timothy Liparulo joining the team, it appears the district is better equipped to make that notion a reality.