The North Allegheny School District appointed Dr. Brendan Hyland as Superintendent of Schools, effective July 1, 2023.

Dr. Hyland has dedicated his career to education for over three decades and is honored to return to the North Allegheny School District, where he previously served as the principal of North Allegheny Intermediate High School from 2007 to 2018. Having spent a decade in the District, Dr. Hyland recognizes North Allegheny’s limitless potential and is excited to inspire students and staff to reach new heights.

Dr. Hyland and his wife, Tricia, who is also an educator, are the proud parents of three children: Alyssa, Allie, and A.J. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1991 with a B.A. in Education, emphasizing Political Science. Immediately after earning his degree, Dr. Hyland began his career as a seventh-grade social studies teacher at Page Middle School in the Gloucester County School District in southeastern Virginia. From 1991 to 1993, he taught United States History, served as the team leader of an interdisciplinary team, and coached basketball.

In the fall of 1993, Dr. Hyland joined the Mt. Lebanon School District, where he taught World History, Civics and Political Science, and American Government over the next ten years. He also served as an assistant varsity girls’ basketball coach and ninth-grade head and assistant football coach. During his successful tenure as a classroom teacher, Dr. Hyland pursued further education, earning a master’s degree and a Principal’s Certification in Administration and Policy Studies from the University of Pittsburgh.

In 2001, Dr. Hyland was promoted to Assistant Principal at Mt. Lebanon High School. He also graduated from the University of Pittsburgh’s Principals’ Academy and Advanced Leadership Academy. He led several district-wide initiatives as an administrator in the Mt. Lebanon School District. He was pivotal in developing and implementing a differentiated teacher evaluation system, coordinated a comprehensive Middle States review, served as an internal examiner for the Keystone Association for Performance Excellence, participated in a Baldrige Assessment Team, and developed an innovative online platform for PSSA remediation.

In 2007, Dr. Hyland joined the North Allegheny School District as the principal of North Allegheny Intermediate High School. Under his leadership, the school made significant advancements. It was ranked No. 1 by the Pittsburgh Business Times from 2015 to 2017 and consistently ranked among the region’s top-performing high schools on state Keystone Exams and the School Performance Profile. Dr. Hyland spearheaded efforts to integrate technology into classroom instruction to prepare students for the 21st century. He played a key role in developing the District’s Focus 2020 initiative, which included a blended learning vision and a framework for its implementation. During his tenure, he also served on the District’s Business Roundtable, led the Act 93 Team, oversaw millions of dollars in construction projects, and became a Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Citizens Academy member. Additionally, in 2014, he completed a doctoral program in Administration and Leadership Studies at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, earning a Superintendent’s Letter of Eligibility. His doctoral dissertation focused on high school principals’ perceptions of cyberbullying.

In March 2018, Dr. Hyland was appointed Superintendent of Plum Borough School District. At the time, Plum Borough faced significant challenges, including a negative $5 million fund balance and reputational damage stemming from past student safety concerns. Dr. Hyland was chosen to guide the District through these difficulties and restore community pride. Under his leadership, the District achieved the following improvements:

• Recruited a new, well-respected district and building-level leadership team and created a Superintendent’s Cabinet that collaborated with the school board.

• Led the development of two strategic planning models that established strategic goals, core values, and a mission statement that continues to drive positive change.

• Implemented a continuous improvement and systems-thinking operational model using a Balanced Scorecard, aligning the strategic plan with a metric-based reporting system.

• Fostered a positive relationship with the media to maximize favorable coverage and restore Plum’s reputation.

• Rebranded the District and improved internal and external perceptions through strategic communication efforts.

• Developed and executed annual parent and student surveys to monitor stakeholder satisfaction.

• Launched a new, user-friendly mobile app and website to enhance communication and promote student achievements.

• Created a Student School Board Representative position to ensure student voices were heard at the board level.

• Developed a Commercial Activities Guide to generate alternative revenue streams for District initiatives.

• Increased transparency by providing online access to board meeting videos and documents.

• Established a district-wide safety-first culture by conducting external safety audits and forming a six-person NASRO-certified Plum School Police Department with over 150 years of combined law enforcement experience.

• Introduced Rachel’s Challenge, a K-12 positive behavior program without prior programming.

• Implemented a common framework for teaching and learning, incorporating the research of Dr. Robert Marzano and Dr. Richard DuFour and Understanding by Design by Dr. Grant Wiggins and Dr. Jay McTighe.

• Increased contractual instructional and professional development days from 188 to 193 through collective bargaining.

• Secured over $3.5 million for K-12 curriculum resources across multiple disciplines.

• Established Google Classroom as the unified District learning management system, with over 85% of teachers earning Google Level 1 certification.

• Enhanced literacy and math screenings with mClass, ALEKS, and CDT, ensuring systematic data-driven instruction.

• Initiated new girls’ wrestling and golf teams.

• Upgraded athletic facilities, including resurfacing fields, tracks, and gym floors, and installing new lighting and sound systems.

• Created a Manager of Sports Performance and Wellness position to promote student health and optimize athletic performance.

• Successfully balanced the District’s budget for the first time in a decade without borrowing, closing a $4.8 million deficit through strategic cost-saving measures.

• Led negotiations for two separate teacher collective bargaining agreements, maintaining managerial rights and strengthening the District’s ability to attract top educators.

• Improved the District’s Moody’s bond rating, enabling refinancing opportunities that saved millions.

• Implemented zero-based budgeting across departments to ensure financial accountability.

• Negotiated a long-term agreement with a local senior citizens’ retirement home, securing $456,000 in additional annual revenue.

As Dr. Hyland begins his tenure as Superintendent of the North Allegheny School District, he is eager to engage with stakeholders and work collaboratively to ensure the District reaches its fullest potential. In his first remarks as Superintendent, he stated:

“I am filled with boundless energy and excitement as I believe North Allegheny deserves a superintendent with a single-minded and uncompromising focus on excellence. However, it is equally important that we ALL understand the vital role each stakeholder plays in working together as a team—the Board, faculty, staff, students, their families, and community members.

Together, we must agree that our primary focus must always be to provide our students with the best educational experience imaginable. By doing so, we will position North Allegheny as the premier District in western Pennsylvania, the Commonwealth, and eventually the entire nation while recognizing that our pursuit of excellence is never-ending.

Once again, I want to thank the Board for the trust and confidence they have placed in me, and I look forward to reconnecting with and supporting some of the finest professionals and students in the world. Simply put, it is good to be back home.”

The Superintendent of Schools received a Distinguished rating for his evaluation for 2023–24 school year.