December 2010 - Allegheny West Magazine

around your townNorth Fayette ResidentLeads Blue Ribbon DistrictT.SALVIE PHOTOGRAPHYABOVE: Donna Belas, North Fayette Township resident andsuperintendent at Cornell School District.When North Fayette resident Donna Belas joined Cornell schools in the midseventies,she did not imagine her career path would lead to the 2010 NationalBlue Ribbon Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C., 35 years later.After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh, Donna joined the CornellSchool District as an English teacher. She earned a master's degree from Pitt in1974 and went on to teach until 2000. Over the years, she taught English ingrades seven through 12, as well as journalism, creative writing, filmmaking,and related subjects. She sponsored many clubs and extracurricular activities.Donna earned special education, supervisor, and principal certifications fromDuquesne University, and from 2000 to 2005 she served as supervisor ofspecial education and alternative programs. She was building principal from2005 until fall 2008, when the school board named her acting superintendent.Pulling double duty, she also served as high school principal that year. In June2009, she earned a superintendent's letter of eligibility from WestminsterCollege and looked forward to assuming the head post in the district she knowsso well.Originally from Brentwood, Donna lived in Moon for 25 years before movingto North Fayette in 2005. She has a daughter, Jennifer, and granddaughter, AvaMarie."I'm one of the lucky people who has a rewarding career and looks forwardto getting up and coming to school/work every day," she said.28 Allegheny West Magazine December 2010