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Home News Alumni John Vannoy Will Soon Become Officially The Superintendent Of The Sharpsville Area...

John Vannoy Will Soon Become Officially The Superintendent Of The Sharpsville Area School District

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John Vannoy
John Vannoy

John Vannoy, a Slippery Rock University alumnus, will soon lose the “acting” portion of his title as he officially becomes the superintendent of the Sharpsville Area School District.

Although the details are still being worked out, members of the district’s Board of Education voted unanimously to promote Vannoy to the job.

His term will be at least three years at an annual salary of $122,000, which would take effect on July 1. Additional contract details are still under negotiation, Vannoy said.

Vannoy has served as acting superintendent since October, when former Superintendent Dr. Brad Ferko resigned. He said his time as acting superintendent and in his previous position as director of student services had already familiarized him with the district’s operations and curriculum.

“It’s nice to have the official title, but as far as the day to day, I don’t foresee that changing,” Vannoy said.

Initially, Vannoy was appointed by the school board to serve as acting superintendent for the remainder of this school year. However, board President Bill Henwood said the board would examine Vannoy’s performance as acting superintendent before deciding whether to search outside the district for Ferko’s replacement.

“Having known and worked with John over the years in the district serving as middle school principal and director of special services, we are impressed with his initiatives in education and very confident that he is ready for this challenge,” Henwood said in a press release.

A 1984 graduate of Sharpsville High School, Vannoy earned his bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Slippery Rock University and his master’s degree in educational administration and superintendent’s letter of eligibility from Youngstown State University. He was employed by the Sharon City School District for 13 years, serving as social studies teacher, athletic director and assistant principal.

In Sharpsville, he served 10 years as middle school principal and two years as director of student services.

“I’m very excited, it’s nice when you get a chance to be the educational leader in the district you graduated from,” said Vannoy, who is a 1984 Sharpsville High graduate.

The school board took action to backfill vacancies created by the promotions of Vannoy and other district officials after Ferko’s resignation by naming Timothy Dadich as director of student services and Carol Houck as principal of Sharpsville Area High School.

Both have served in the “acting” capacity pending a final determination of the superintendent’s position. Now, they will be officially promoted as well.

Dadich will earn $93,800 a year, while Houck’s annual salary is $82,000. Dadich previously served as high school principal, and filled in at Vannoy’s vacated position while Houck was an elementary school teacher who filled in for Dadich.

Despite the change in the school’s administration, Vannoy said it was a relatively smooth transition for everybody involved.

“I think the district handled it very well,” Vannoy said. “When we made the moves, everyone hit the ground running and really adapted well to their new roles.”

Ferko was placed on indefinite sick leave by the school board on Wednesday, Sept. 6, after he had been absent since the prior Friday. Ferko later resigned as superintendent on Oct. 16 at the end of his paid sick leave.