Administration
Dr. Jeff Taylor, Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Jeffrey M. Taylor
724-861-3039
Dr. Taylor began his career in education as a high school biology teacher in the Fort Cherry School District from 1994-1996. Subsequently, he taught high school biology in the Baldwin-Whitehall School District from 1996-2002 before beginning his career in educational administration. After accepting a principal position in the Charleroi Area School in March of 2002, Dr. Taylor was invited to attend the May 8, 2002 public meeting of the Baldwin-Whitehall School District Board of School Directors where he was recognized as a Teacher of Distinction and a recipient of a Teacher Excellence Award.
Dr. Taylor began his administrative career in the Charleroi Area School District where he served as an assistant high school principal, academic principal, high school principal, and the secondary curriculum coordinator from 2002 to 2006. In July of 2006, Dr. Taylor accepted a central office administrative position in the North Hills School District where he served as the Director of Curriculum, Assessment and Technology from 2006 to 2012. Dr. Taylor was then promoted to an Assistant Superintendent position in the North Hills School District and served in this position from 2012 to 2019. In April of 2019, Dr. Taylor was hired as the Superintendent of the Norwin School District and began his tenure on July 1, 2019.
Dr. Taylor earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education-Biology from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. He received a Master of Science degree in Educational Administration from Duquesne University and a second Master of Science in Multimedia Technology also from Duquesne University. Dr. Taylor was awarded his Superintendent's Letter of Eligibility from California University of Pennsylvania and completed his doctorate at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Taylor's dissertation was entitled “Characteristics of Effective Online Professional Development: A Case Study Analysis of an Online Professional Development Course Offered via Blackboard.”
During his administrative career, Dr. Taylor has had the opportunity to serve on the Pennsylvania Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (PASCD) State Executive Board since 2003 as the Technology Committee Chair and served as the organization’s President from 2016 to 2018. Dr. Taylor’s article, “Competing with Cyber Charters,” was published in School Administrator, a nationally distributed magazine. He has presented at various professional conferences including the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development National Conference, the Pennsylvania Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development State Conference, Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals' State Conference, and the Pennsylvania Educational Technology Expo and Conference.
Dr. Taylor's work was recognized in 2008 with the Pennsylvania ASCD Robert E. Flynn Distinguished Educator Award, in 2011 with the Pennsylvania ASCD Supervision and Curriculum Award, and in 2012 with the Pennsylvania ASCD President’s Award for his efforts in promoting the use of technology across the state. In 2010, Dr. Taylor received the Outstanding Contribution to Online Learning Award from Blendedschools.net for his work to create the Online Academy @ North Hills. Dr. Taylor also has received international recognition for receiving the 2012 Blackboard Catalyst Award for Exemplary Online Course Development.
Dr. Natalie A. McCracken, Assistant Superintendent
Natalie A. McCracken, Ed.D.724-861-3021
Dr. McCracken serves as the Assistant Superintendent of K-12 Education in the Norwin School District. She transitioned to this position after serving as the Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education from 2012-2019.
After earning her Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Dr. McCracken began her teaching career in Louisa County and Chesterfield County, Virginia, where she taught grades five and six and also served as a K-5 Title I Mathematics Specialist.
Dr. McCracken then returned to Pennsylvania and completed her Master of Education degree and Principal Certification through California University of Pennsylvania, including an internship at Hillcrest Intermediate School. She was hired to teach sixth grade mathematics and Pre-Algebra at Hillcrest for two years prior to serving as the principal at Sunset Valley Elementary for six years. She then earned her Superintendent Letter of Eligibility through California University of Pennsylvania in 2011. Dr. McCracken earned a Doctoral degree in School Leadership through the University of Pittsburgh, completing a dissertation titled Principal Perceptions of Professional Development.
Dr. McCracken resides in North Huntingdon with her husband, Lew. Their children, Gage and Ansley, are both alumni of the Norwin School District.
2022-2023 Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent Evaluation
Dr. Stacey Snyder, Director of Special Education & Student Services
Dr. Stacey Snyder724-861-3037
Dr. Snyder was hired as Director of Special Education and Student Services at Norwin School District for the 2016-2017 school year. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree at Washington and Jefferson College and her Master of Science in School Psychology from California University of Pennsylvania. She worked as a Certified School Psychologist for the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit for 14 years, 13 of which she was contracted to Norwin. Beginning July 2013, Dr. Snyder was hired at Norwin School District as the Coordinator of Special Education and Psychological Services/School Psychologist where she worked, until leaving for the position of Director of Pupil Services at Southmoreland School District in October of 2015.
Dr. Snyder earned her Doctor of Education degree in School Leadership from the University of Pittsburgh in 2014. Her dissertation topic focused on parent engagement in the secondary special education transition process.
Dr. Snyder received her Pre-K -12 Principal Certification from California University of Pennsylvania and her Superintendent Letter of Eligibility from the University of Pittsburgh.
In addition to the Special Education Department, Dr. Snyder is responsible for School Psychological Services, School Social Work Services, Gifted Support Services, School Counseling, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, School-Based Behavioral Health, and English as a Second Language (ESL). She also oversees 504 compliance and the School Based ACCESS program.
Mr. Ryan Kirsch, Director of Finance & Operations
Ryan P. Kirsch724-861-3000 ext. 1110
Ryan Kirsch Mr. Ryan Kirsch, CPA, is the Director of Business Affairs and Chief Financial Officer for Norwin School District, having begun official duties in May 2017. Mr. Kirsch is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a B.S. and M.S. in Safety Science and a M.B.A. in Accounting. Prior to joining Norwin School District, Mr. Kirsch served as Business Manager at Spring Cove School District for 3 years.