New principals join Chartiers Valley at primary, middle schools

Chartiers Valley has welcomed two new principals at its primary and middle schools this year.

Hannah Dziamniski was hired as assistant principal at the Primary School. James Pegher was named principal at the Middle School.

Dziamniski, 28, always knew that she wanted to get into the education field to help children succeed.

But it wasn’t until she got into classrooms that she realized she wanted to support students and staff in a larger role.

“I’m very dedicated to my work in education, and I’m grateful to be here,” she said. “I’m really excited to be a part of this community and help continue its success and growth.”

Dziamniski worked as an elementary school teacher in the Elizabeth Forward School District for six years before coming to Chartiers Valley. She attended Point Park University and earned her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction and her doctorate in educational leadership.

She said she was drawn to an administrative role because she wanted to help teachers have the tools they need to be successful.

“For the students to do their best, we need the teachers to do their best,” she said.

She said Chartiers Valley has a strong sense of community.

“Teachers and staff are so dedicated to the students, embracing all the amazing things they bring into school, and I wanted to be a part of that,” she said.

Principal Deidra Stepko and Dziamniski mesh well, Dziamniski said, as they share similar values in education.

Dziamniski’s goals, she said, include developing relationships with students, staff and the community; and helping to create new opportunities for students to be successful. One particular goal is to incorporate the “World of Work” career exploration model into curriculum, she said.

Pegher, 30, comes from a family of educators.

He grew up in Pittsburgh’s Point Breeze neighborhood and earned his bachelor’s degree in secondary history education from Slippery Rock University. He also earned a special education certification from IUP and a master’s in school administration from Point Park.

Pegher taught at Pittsburgh Public School’s Morrow building for four years and also coached girls basketball, flag football and co-ed soccer at the school.

He became assistant principal at Pittsburgh’s Perry High School in 2022. He starts at Chartiers Valley Middle School this month.

“My wife and I live in Chartiers Valley, and I was looking to get involved,” Pegher said. “I think there’s no better way to get involved in a community than to work with and educate the young people in your community.”

One of his proudest accomplishments at Perry was increasing enrollment at the school. He hopes to bolster a similar sense of community at Chartiers Valley and educate students to prepare them for future careers.

“I’m really looking forward to being able to work here, for not only the children to grow, but for me to grow as an educator,” Pegher said.