Mt. Lebanon names next superintendent
At a special board meeting held May 1, the Mt. Lebanon Board of School Directors, in a unanimous 9-0 vote, appointed Dr. Melissa R. Friez as the superintendent of schools for the Mt. Lebanon School District for a five-year term.
She will replace longtime superintendent Dr. Timothy Steinhauer, who is retiring at the end of this school year.
Mt. Lebanon School Board President Jacob Wyland said, “Dr. Friez comes to us with strong academic and administrative credentials from a well-regarded comparator school district in our region. The board is confident that under her leadership, the district will continue to thrive and keep the focus on our board-supported initiatives.”
Friez is currently the superintendent of the North Allegheny School District. She began at North Allegheny in 2019 as the Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Schools.
Prior to her tenure at North Allegheny, Friez served as an assistant superintendent of student support services and an assistant superintendent of instructional leadership for the Pittsburgh Public School District.
Friez began her teaching career as a high school English teacher and was a principal for nine years following her time in the classroom.
“I am pleased and honored to be the next superintendent of the Mt. Lebanon School District. I have admiration for the achievements of the district and look forward to carrying Mt. Lebanon into the future while collaborating with students, staff, administrators, and community.” Friez said. “There is no question that Mt. Lebanon values each of its 10 schools. I look forward to learning more about the district and meeting members of the community in the months ahead.”
Friez earned a doctorate in administrative and policy studies and a superintendent’s letter of eligibility from the University of Pittsburgh, a master’s degree in secondary English education from Duquesne University, and K-12 principal certification from Carlow University. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English literature and psychology from the University of Pittsburgh.