SFU Celebrates Educational Leaders during National Principals Month
Celebrating Educational Leaders: October Is National Principals Month
This October, Saint Francis University Graduate Education celebrates the educators who lead, inspire, and create opportunities for students and teachers every day.
October is National Principals Month, a time to recognize the important role principals and school leaders play in shaping schools, supporting educators, and creating environments where students can learn and thrive. National Principals Month recognizes principals as leaders who help shape school culture, champion students and staff, and build opportunities within their schools and communities.
At Saint Francis University, we believe that effective school leadership begins with a strong understanding of teaching and learning.
Teachers and Instructional Leaders: Partners in Student Success
Teachers are at the heart of every school. They build relationships with students, design meaningful learning experiences, recognize individual strengths and needs, and create classrooms where students can grow academically, socially, and personally. Instructional leaders play a critical role in supporting teachers and creating the conditions necessary for effective teaching and learning.
Principals and other school leaders help establish a shared vision for learning, support professional growth, analyze student and school data, encourage collaboration, communicate with families and communities, and advocate for the resources students and educators need. Strong instructional leadership means being more than an administrator. It means understanding instruction, knowing what effective teaching looks like, listening to educators, supporting professional learning, and keeping students at the center of decision-making.
That is why preparing the next generation of educational leaders matters.
This National Principals Month, Saint Francis University Graduate Education is proud to celebrate our students who have completed the Principal PK–12 program and those currently working toward their next step in educational leadership.
Every one of these educators brings a unique perspective to school leadership. Some are classroom teachers preparing to take on their first administrative role. Others are experienced educators expanding their leadership responsibilities. Together, they represent educators who are committed to learning, leading, and making a difference in their schools and communities.
Kevin McCloskey
Principal PK–12, Program Completer Spring 2026
Assistant Principal, Hollidaysburg Area School District
My “AND” at Saint Francis University was discovering that I could make a difference in education in a whole new way. After spending more than 25 years in the classroom, making the move into school administration was a big step for me. Saint Francis certainly gave me the knowledge and preparation I needed to earn my Principal Certification, but it also gave me the confidence to take that next step and see myself as a school leader.
What really made the experience special for me were the people. I had the opportunity to learn from longtime, highly respected educators and school leaders who brought years of real-world experience into the classroom. They didn't just teach the coursework, they shared their own experiences, offered practical advice, and helped connect what we were learning to situations we would actually face as administrators. Now that I am serving as an Assistant Principal, I find myself using something I learned from those classes, conversations, and experiences almost every day.
I was also very fortunate to have Dr. Peppetti as my academic advisor throughout the program. Her guidance, support, and encouragement meant a great deal to me, especially as I worked through the program while making the transition into administration. Having someone who was genuinely invested in my success and always willing to offer advice or encouragement made the experience that much more meaningful.
Most importantly, Saint Francis helped me grow as a leader without ever losing sight of why I became an educator in the first place, our students. I still bring my teacher perspective with me every day, but SFU helped me see how I could use that experience to support not only students, but also teachers, families, and the entire school community.
Nancy Fagan
Current student completing the program in Spring 2027
Learning Support Teacher, 3rd Grade, Forest Hills Elementary School
Saint Francis University has given me more than just the knowledge of leadership, it has built confidence in myself as a leader. Through my experiences at SFU I have gained new perspectives on the importance of strong relationships with parents, students, and more specifically staff. The “AND” for me has been discovering that I can take the experiences I have gained as a teacher and special educator and use them to make a broader impact as an educational leader.
Amanda Tresnicky
Current student in the ED.D.and Graduate Education programs
Completing the program in Spring 2027
Saint Francis University has allowed me the opportunity to become that someone as I take the next steps toward furthering my education and growing as an educational leader. Through the graduate and doctoral programs (Veritas Cohort), I have grown in my confidence as a leader, learned alongside some incredible individuals, begun presenting my research and writing manuscripts for publication, and started finding my path toward my future in education. More than a degree, SFU has given me the confidence to take that next step, even when I cannot see exactly where the path will lead.
I have carried this quote with me throughout my journey: “Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” SFU has encouraged me to keep taking those steps, trusting that each one is leading me toward the educator and leader I am meant to become.
Jessica Fishburn
Principal Pk-12 Program Completer in Spring 2026
Current student in the Ed.D. program
Secondary Mathematics Teacher, Juniata Valley High School
Secondary Education in Mathematics, B.S.; Master of Education, M.Ed.
What was the “AND” for you about Saint Francis University? The AND for me about Saint Francis University was not only my master's degree or the start of my doctoral journey, but also creating relationships, building my confidence as a leader and educator, and the opportunity to grow further in my profession. Saint Francis University and this program have helped me to achieve my goals and create new ones along the way. I never thought when I first started this program that I would enjoy online classes or be successful, but as I met my professors and classmates and started building relationships with them, I knew that this was the program for me.
These voices remind us that leadership development is not simply about earning a credential. It is about preparing educators to step forward, expand their influence, and serve students, teachers, families, and communities in new ways.
Prepare to Lead at Saint Francis University
The Saint Francis University Principal PK–12 program provides advanced professional study for educators pursuing Pennsylvania principal certification. The program is designed to develop school leaders who can provide visionary, instructional, and administrative leadership while responding to the changing needs of the communities they serve. The program is PDE-approved and offered online, with clinical observation requirements.
For educators seeking a graduate degree, SFU also offers a Principal PK–12 specialization within the Master of Education, combining online coursework with clinical experiences.
The program is led by Dr. Melissa Peppetti, Ph.D., Director of Graduate Education at Saint Francis University, who brings experience as a former assistant principal and principal in K–12 education. Her experience in school leadership, combined with her work in higher education, allows her to connect research and theory with the realities educators encounter every day.
During National Principals Month, we celebrate the leaders who have already stepped into school leadership—and the educators who are preparing to lead tomorrow.
Ready to Get Started?
Explore the program: SFU Principal PK–12 and Graduate Education Programs
Dr. Melissa Peppetti, Ph.D.
Director of Graduate Education
mpeppetti@francis.edu
814-472-3068
Ms. Morgan Shumaker
Enrollment Advisor
mshumaker@francis.edu
814-395-6095
Your classroom experience matters. Your leadership matters. Your voice matters.
Take the next step toward becoming an educational leader.
