New Greensburg Central Catholic principal aims to ‘be a part of moving it into the future’

For Theresa Szmed, the past month has been all about listening.

Szmed was hired as principal for Greensburg Central Catholic Junior-Senior High School in November and took the reins in January, with assistance from interim Principal Sharyn Zalno.

“It’s been a fantastic adventure, and it’s been overall positive,” said Szmed, 60, of Delmont. “Working here and adopting a new staff, of course it’s always a new learning tool, but I’ve always been open to change and making adjustments to change.”

Szmed came to the Hempfield school from Mother of Sorrows School in Murrysville, where she worked since 2016. Szmed has served as a Catholic school educator and administrator in Plum, Pittsburgh, Verona and Murrysville for more than 35 years.

The job opened in September when former Principal Kevin Frye resigned without warning effective immediately two weeks into the academic year. Director of Admissions Elyse Bogner resigned in the same fashion a few days later.

When Szmed heard about the job opening, she was interested in working at the high school level.

“I was just really drawn from a spiritual and a prayerful consideration as to what was going on at Greensburg Central Catholic and really wanted to be a part of moving it into the future,” Szmed said.

“Mother of Sorrows was in a really great spot. I had accomplished a lot of the goals that we had set out, and I thought I would apply.”

Szmed helped increase Mother of Sorrows’ enrollment by 30%. She introduced the “Rigor for All” sessions for faculty to guide teachers in increasing the level of difficulty for any lesson, said Nancy Rottler, superintendent of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Greensburg.

Rottler, who was hired as superintendent in 2022, commended Szmed for her keen focus on faculty development and strategic programming.

“The feedback, time and time again, from Mother of Sorrows parents has been so favorable of the culture that she has created — the positivity, the faith-filled experience and the opportunity to clearly provide students and families with an environment for students to excel in their faith and in the classroom,” Rottler said.

One of Szmed’s top priorities in leading Greensburg Central Catholic, she said, is observing its needs and successes while acknowledging its past and maintaining strong alumni connections.

“One thing that has always impressed me about Catholic education is the amount of engagement that we have with our students — not only on the academic level, but on a spiritual level and a formation level,” she said. “To me, that is what helps our students stand out, and that’s what helps them to gain the confidence to be Catholic global leaders into the future.”

On the horizon

Greensburg Central Catholic is working with the diocese’s other junior-senior high school, Geibel Catholic in Connellsville, to provide more opportunities for students to connect with alumni and prepare for the transition out of high school, Rottler said.

The school offers a medical perspectives course that invites alumni in the medical field to discuss how Greensburg Central Catholic prepared them for their career.

“Our students and alumni are so proud of their experience, and we want to share that with our current students and families,” Rottler said.

The diocese will also continue perfecting its police force and school counselor programs, which launched in 2023.

The Diocese of Greensburg Police Department is headed by Chief Ryan Maher, a former state police lieutenant, Rottler said. Each of the diocese’s 12 schools is patrolled daily by one armed police officer, who comes to the department with at least 20 years of prior police service.

Greensburg is the first diocese in the state to form a private police department, she said.

“They’re more than a police force. We really want them to interact with students and families,” Rottler said. “I can’t tell you the positive feedback that I’ve heard from the parents and the students.

“(The officers) are tying their shoes, they’re trying to interact with them in the lunchroom and (the students) are really seeing that person as a presence and another trusted adult.”

The diocese also hired two full-time mental health counselors in the fall through a partnership with Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Greensburg. Each counselor visits five schools per week, Rottler said.

“It’s great to have that option, because there are students that do demonstrate a need,” Szmed said. “I know just in my short time here at GCC that I’ve made recommendations for that opportunity to students and they’ve taken advantage of it, and it’s really been a positive experience for them.”

The diocese will expand its esports program, which launched at both junior-senior high schools and St. John the Evangelist Regional Catholic School in Uniontown this past fall. Four more schools will start teams in the spring, and the remaining schools will get on board next academic year.

A strategic plan outlining the future of the schools will be released in the coming months, Rottler said.

To guide the strategic plan, the diocese surveyed in 2023 more than 2,000 faculty, staff, parents, students and alumni about the school system’s goals. Topics in the survey included academic excellence, faith-based environment, extracurricular activities, technology, mental health, facilities and safety.

The diocese is interviewing candidates to take Szmed’s place at Mother of Sorrows, which is temporarily filled by the school’s assistant principal, Patricia Visnick.

Mother of Sorrows Spanish teacher Mary Osche has stepped in as acting assistant principal. Her schedule has been adjusted so she can serve both roles, Rottler said. Once a new principal is hired, Visnick and Osche will return to their previous roles.

“We want to make sure we hire the right person — not just a person, but the right person,” Rottler said.