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Junior High principal Mark Draskovich to be honored by La Roche

NORTH VERSAILLES — An East Allegheny administrator is set to receive a big honor from his alma mater this weekend.

Junior High School principal Mark Draskovich will receive the Distinguished Alumni Award from La Roche University this weekend for his many years in public education.

“La Roche was kind of where my interest in education was sparked,” Draskovich said. “I did my first field placement in education there, and they lit my fire for education. It’s nice to be able to pass that along to other people.”

He added, “I like the idea of education being a great equalizer. … Some of these kids don’t have any idea what talent they can develop if they just go for a higher education. Kids could be in the military, could be doing any type of trade, or just developing themselves to be the best that they can be. The key to that is education.”

Draskovich earned his bachelor's degree in history from La Roche, and then earned his master’s degree in history from Duquesne before earning his teaching credentials through both Duquesne and La Roche. He earned his superintendent’s letter of eligibility from Duquesne. Draskovich also took some classes in applied history at Carnegie Mellon.

“So I think the only place I didn’t go to school at in Pittsburgh was Pitt,” Draskovich joked.

Draskovich taught history and photography for nine years, and served as the Student Assistance Coordinator for Intermediate Units 1, 2, 3, 4, and 27 for non-public schools. In that position, he dealt with every non-public school in Beaver, Butler, Lawrence, Washington, Allegheny, and Green counties.

Where Draskovich truly feels he made his mark, though, was starting alternative school programs for students that “weren’t making it in other places.”

He directed the residential treatment programs at Auberle, “and there were a lot of kids there that weren’t getting very good school programs, so I started a school for them and an alternative school for Auberle.”

He would serve as the Director of Education at Glade Run, and then served as the principal at Seneca Valley for seven years before coming to the East Allegheny School District in 2007.

“Honestly, I liked it at Seneca Valley, but when I worked at Auberle, I got to know the community here pretty well,” Draskovich said. “They kind of adopted me.”

Draskovich began as a principal at East Allegheny Senior High School before shifting to the Director of Pupil Personnel, which handled special education services, among other duties. He’s still serving as the Director of Pupil Services, and this year added junior high principal to his list of duties. He also still is in the Coast Guard Auxiliary, for which he teaches leadership and management

Draskovich acknowledges that he enjoyed teaching more than he does working as an administrator, but he’s grateful for the impact he’s making outside of the classroom, too.

In particular, Draskovich says he enjoys working with students who are struggling.

“It feels like you’re doing your best work where you’re most needed. We have a big mix of kids (at East Allegheny), but honestly, whenever I see a kid getting a diploma that never would have made it otherwise, that’s rewarding,” he said.