McDonald school board names new high school principal

March 17, 2008 at 10:18p.m.

McDONALD — The board of education named Gary Carkido as new high school principal under a two-year contract to replace retiring Principal John LaRocca.

Carkido will start as Aug. 1, and serve to July 31, 2010. His annual salary will be $70,000 for 2008-09 and $71,750 for 2009-10.

Carkido, 39, his wife, Stacey, and their two sons live at 546 Illinois Ave.

He has been high school mathematics teacher since 1997, and was also math department chairman, a principal substitute, assistant varsity football coach and served as a detention supervisor.

Before that he worked at Midpark High School, Middleburg Heights, from 1994-97 as a secondary math teacher, assistant varsity football coach and assistant varsity track and head sprint coach.

He was a substitute teacher at Girard High School from 1993-94 and was assistant varsity football coach in McDonald in fall 1992 and 1993.

Carkido has a bachelor’s degree in secondary education with a concentration in math from Youngstown State University and earned his master’s degree in educational administration from YSU. He has certification as a principal for grades five through 12.

He also served in the Ohio Army National Guard from 1987-93, serving with the military police and is a Gulf War Veteran.

The board also named Cathy Woods as high school guidance counselor. She currently is a special education teacher at the high school and has been with McDonald for nine years.

Before that, she worked with Trumbull County Educational Service Center for four years. She also lives in McDonald.