School board picks first female principal

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — The New Castle Area School District made history last week.

The school board named Dr. Jacqueline M. Respress principal of the New Castle Junior-Senior High School, effective July 2.

She is the first woman to hold that post, and in doing so will become the district’s highest-ranking black administrator.

She will be responsible for overseeing operations at the junior-senior high school.

Respress, a junior high school principal at New Castle, replaces principal John Sarandrea, who is leaving the district at the end of the school year.

Sarandrea, who also was New Castle’s boys basketball coach, was named superintendent of the Sharon City School District earlier this month.

Respress is the district’s second black administrator. Dr. Mabel Paige, who has since retired, served as an elementary school principal.

Last year, Respress pursued the newly created position of assistant to the superintendent. But the school board’s decision to pass her over in favor of Terence Meehan sparked controversy with students, staff and the district’s black residents.