Mike Rowe

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Life often does not go where we plan for it to go, an almost never in the way we expect it to get there. Michael Rowe, currently the principal of the North Washington and Washington Elementary schools, has come to where he had always known he would be, but it came about in a different way than he thought.

At an age where many young people are unsure (if not entirely clueless) about where they want to go in life, Michael Rowe already knew he was going to be an educator. Not only that, but he knew where he was going to teach: in the Kiski Area School District, here in the Alle-Kiski Valley. While earning his Baccalaureate degree at IUP, he was told by his advisor, "You will have no trouble finding a job… but not here in Pennsylvania." Not one to give up easily, Mike finished his degree and submitted his application to the Kiski School District. The first response came not from Kiski, however, but from a school district in Maryland. Mike was anxious to teach, so although he was reluctant to leave this area he moved to Maryland where he had his first job interview, and shortly following, his first job.

Mike enjoyed his teaching position in Maryland but his heart was still in the AK Valley. He had attended Kiski Area, and he loved Kiski High School (although, he admits, like most high school students he did not realize how much he enjoyed it until after his graduation). He began his college career at Penn State New Kensington campus, meanwhile working at Tees 'n' Tops in downtown Vandergrift (in 1988 he transferred to IUP to finish his degree). So he did miss his old home, and he says, "the day I left, I wanted to come back. I made it my life’s goal to come back."

An opportunity to do just that came years later. By that time, Mike had unexpectedly become the assistant principal of the school where he had taught. It was not something he had planned - he always thought of himself as a teacher – but when the opportunity for an administrative position came, he took it. And, he decided to stay with it a while longer. He was, at the time, earning his Master's Degree at Wilmington University and decided it would be wise to wait until that was finished to move back to PA. Sure enough, after he finished his degree another offer came from Mr. Dick, Superintendent of Elementary Schools in the Kiski Area district. So he and his wife, Beth, moved back to the AK Valley, where he took on his position of Principal at the Washington and North Washington elementary schools.

Mike had never planned to become an administrator, in fact it was something he did not want to do when he started his career. He enjoyed the classroom, and the relationships that he had with the students there. He admits that he was nervous when he started the job, but he was also exited and enthusiastic.

It seems that he was the right man for the job. His experience as a teacher, and a strong belief in the importance of the relationships with the students, helped him to be an effective leader at his schools. As a principal, he strives to be a visible, friendly person, and he takes time to talk with students about what is important to them: little league games, what they enjoy doing after school, as well as their studies. Parents often come to him for help with students who are struggling, and he takes time from his already busy schedule to see that they get the help they need.

And his schedule is very busy. Not only does he run two schools, but he is also the Director of Transportation for his schools. That position faced him with a great challenge when he started. He had to come up with the bus routes, and become familiar with the state laws regarding school bus transportation. That leaves him very little free time, but when he has it, Mike, a sports enthusiast, enjoys watching the Pirates and Steelers play with his wife and their son (who is going on three years), and spending time with other family members. When the stress of work gets to him, he says, he will occasionally ride his Harley Davidson Motorcycle.

Among Mike’s accomplishments as principal are after-school tutoring and the North Washington PTO.

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