About the Trustee's
Jen Mascaro, Secretary
Jen Mascaro is a lifelong resident of Plum Borough. After graduating from Plum High School in 2001 she went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in public relations from Slippery Rock University. Jen spent 10 years in the corporate world, enjoying a career as an independent consultant and team leader for a marketing company and as an account manager at an energy firm. Jen is now a Real Estate Expert at Coldwell Banker Realty where she has surpassed over $110 million in total sales volume, placing her among the top four affiliated teams in her company and earning her recognition in the Coldwell Banker ® International President's Elite an honor reserved for the top 10% of all Coldwell Banker teams worldwide. Jen’s diligence and hard work have helped her to soar in her philanthropic life as well as her real estate career. She organized a designer purse bash for the Make A Wish Foundation, raising over $100,000 for the charity. When not working, Jen loves to spend time with her husband Joe, a 1999 Plum graduate & their three young children; Aiden (10 - 5th grade), Aubrey (7 – 2nd Grade), Austin (6 - Kindergarten).
Nicole Shingle
Nicole Shingle moved to Plum in 2013. She became a stay-at-home mom and spent a considerable amount of time volunteering with the Adlai Stevenson PTA. She served as Historian for one year and as the President of the Holiday Park Elementary PTA for two years. She also served as the President of the Plum PTA Council for two years and is on her second term as the founding President of the Plum PTO Presidents Council.
Nicole began her career in education when her daughter was born as a preschool teacher in Hollidaysburg, PA. She is currently employed as a Paraprofessional in the Plum Borough School District and thoroughly enjoys her days in the Life Skills program at Holiday Park. She is a 2003 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and resides in Holiday Park with her husband and their teenage son and daughter.
Jaime Caliguiri, Treasurer
Jaime Caliguiri is an experienced administrator in the healthcare industry with over 20 years of experience. She currently serves as Branch Manager of the Monroeville/Pittsburgh office of Health Care Solutions, a division of Lincare, the International Leader in Respiratory Care and Medical Equipment.
Jaime and her husband Michael moved to Plum in 2005 and currently have two children in the district. She is a member of the Plum Middle School PSSO, where she serves as Treasurer. Jaime is also active with the Plum High School Cheer Boosters, serving as Chair of the Breast Cancer Awareness Committee and the Senior Scholarship Committee.
Michael Caliguiri, M.S. – Founder, Seniro Advisor
Michael Caliguiri and his wife, Jaime, moved to Plum Borough in 2005 and have two children in the Plum Borough School District (PBSD). Mr. Caliguiri currently serves as a PBSD School Director and was selected by his colleagues to fulfill leadership roles as both President & Vice President.
With a Master of Science Degree in Child Development/Child Care Mr. Caliguiri focuses his interests on academic, career, social, and emotional development of all students and children within PBSD while maintaining prudent fiscal accountability.
Mr. Caliguiri envisions The Plum Mustang Foundation as a critical support system to the faculty and students in achieving their fullest potential.
Rachel Arhin, Student Trustee
Rachel Arhin is an 11th grade student at Plum Senior High School who stands out amongst her peers. She is an academic all-star who pushes herself by taking highly engaging and rigorous advanced courses. She is involved in clubs and activities and her family is an amazing support system for her and her sister. She always has a smile on her face and is one of the most hard working and kind students you will ever meet. We are very excited to have Rachel represent the student body as a representative to the Foundation in their endeavors.
Dr. Danielle Bajus, President
Dr. Danielle Bajus is the Advanced Practice Supervisor for the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at UPMC. She oversees approximately 30 Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants across the health system. She received her diploma in nursing from UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing in 1999. She subsequently obtained her BSN from Waynesburg University in 2004. Her Master’s Degree (2007) and a Doctorate in Nursing Practice (2017) are both from the University of Pittsburgh. She has been practicing as an AcuteCare Nurse Practitioner for the past 15 years. Danielle’s clinical background consists of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Critical Care Medicine and Neurocritical Care at UPMC Presbyterian. She has written a book chapter, co-authored abstracts, and has been an invited speaker to several conferences nationwide. Danielle also holds an adjunct Faculty position at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing.
Danielle and her husband Mike moved to Plum Borough in 2006 when they purchased their home in Holiday Park. Their two children attend Plum Middle School and Plum High School. She has been part of the PTA/PTO for many years and has held various board positions including President and Vice President at Holiday Park, and most recently VP at O’Block Junior High. She is an active member of the Plum PTO President's Council. She has chaired several committees and organized many events over the last several years. Danielle plans to join the Music Boosters this fall.
Drew Barto
Drew Barto is the proud father of three school-aged children in the Plum Borough School District. When he is not helping his kids chase their dreams, Drew fulfills the role of Director of Marketing for award-winning Energy Swing Windows. Since 2009, Drew has helped this family-owned company become a primetime player in the Pittsburgh market and has contributed to the long-term growth of the business as a member of its leadership team. During Drew's time at Energy Swing, the business has won four consecutive Western PA Better Business Bureau Torch Awards for Ethics. Drew was also named to Professional Remodeler Magazine's Forty Under 40 Class of 2021.
Drew has been involved in fundraising efforts for numerous non-profits, including JDRF and Toys for Pittsburgh Tikes, in addition to giving back to the Plum community in several volunteer roles.
Drew graduated from Allegheny College with a degree in psychology in 2006, and later earned his M.A. in Communications from Lindenwood University.
Rick Berrott
Rick Berrott is the TV Production teacher at Plum High School. He has been a teacher in the Plum School District since 1996. He is a 1987 graduate of Plum High School, and after twenty-nine years of experience in the teaching field, he lives for the purple and gold. Over the last two decades, he has watched our school district grow and prosper, and on a personal level he has brought the Plum Borough School District to the forefront with our Make-A-Wish Telethons and our Pittsburgh Penguins lip-dub videos. One of his personal goals is to always give back, and right now Plum has eclipsed one million dollars in fundraising for Make-A-Wish, which puts Plum as the number one fundraising school district for Make-A-Wish in the world. Rick’s wife is a 21-year veteran teacher at Pivik Elementary School, and they have three children, Zach, Emily, and Parker. Zach is a 2021 graduate of Plum and is at Waynesburg University playing soccer and track and majoring in Athletic Communication and Sports Management. Emily is currently a senior at Plum Senior High School on the varsity soccer team, and Parker is a freshman at Plum Senior High School. In our free time, we like to do almost anything together as a family.
Maggie Beckner
Maggie was born and raised in Plum Boro and graduated Class of 1995. She continued on to earn her bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Clarion University. Upon graduation, she was employed at Federated Investors Hermes for 10 years, first in Customer Service, and then as a Compliance Project Manager. Maggie decided to step away from the corporate world to raise her two children, while working part time as a Preschool Music Teacher.
Maggie and her husband, Mark, moved back to Plum in 2010. Their two children are students in the Plum School District. Maggie has volunteered her time in the Plum Schools since her oldest started Kindergarten in 2012. She served on the PTO Board of Holiday Park as Vice President for two years. She also chaired many committees at various schools, such as Fundraising, Book Fair, and D.C. Fundraising Coordinator. Maggie currently serves as Secretary of the PSSO at Plum Middle School, and as Co-President of the Plum Boys’ Basketball Boosters. Maggie is passionate about supporting our teachers and students and looks forward to working to positively impact the education of our students in Plum Boro.
Mitchell Coates
Mitchell Coates is currently the Associate Director of Development at Carnegie Mellon University’s Mellon College of Science. For the past 20 years, he has worked extensively in the non-profit sector as a donor professional for nonprofits throughout the Pittsburgh region, including Carlow University, Healthy Start, Inc., Imani Christian Academy, and Pittsburgh Ballet. Mitchell holds an MBA from Point Park University and a BA in Political Science/Business from Duquesne University.
Debbie DePew
Debbie DePew is currently an Account Executive with PNC Bank. She is a proud graduate of the University of Pittsburgh where she earned her Degree in Social Work.
Over the last 11 years Debbie has been the Chair for UPMC Children’s Hospitals signature event that benefits the hospital's Hematology and Oncology Division. The event has raised over $1.5 million for the hospital. Debbie also organized Pittsburgh’s first Cure Search walk. She was the Chair for the walk the first four years. The walk continues to be a huge success and benefits the Children's Oncology Group and also benefits UPMC Children’s Hospital.
Debbie and her husband Bill have lived in Plum for the last 22 years. They currently reside in Kellywood Estates with their 2 children, Billy (20) and Ella (15). Billy is a graduate of Plum Senior High School and is a Sophomore at Point Park University. Ella is currently a sophomore at Plum Senior High School.
Jody Dojonovic
Jody Dojonovic grew up in Plum Boro and graduated Class of 1992 along with my husband, Tommy. They, in turn, chose to raise their family here in Plum Borough.
They currently have three children in the school district 6th, 10th and 12th grade. They lost their oldest son/brother to suicide in June of 2019. Since then, Jody has become an advocate for Mental Health and Wellness in children, teens and young adults. She started a foundation of spreading positivity and advocating for the reform of Mental Health education in our schools, as well as, working to diminish the stigma of Mental Illness, all in honor and memory of their son, Thomas Jack.
She is a staunch supporter of our teachers and our education system here in Plum. She believes that our children deserve the best that our district has to offer and she will proudly advocate for and support those efforts. Her ultimate goal is to have Mental Health Education in our school systems throughout our country, starting from preschool all the way to senior high school and beyond.
“There is Hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t.” -John Green
Jessica Devine
Jess is a lifelong resident of Plum Borough. After graduating from Plum High School in 2002, where she was a member of the volleyball and basketball teams, she went on to earn her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Nursing and Anesthesia from The University of Pittsburgh. Jess graduated number 1 in her anesthesia class and is currently the Chief CRNA within the Excela Health System. Jess spent 10 years at UPMC Presbyterian as an ICU Nurse and Nurse Anesthetist. From there she joined a private practice and ran three surgery centers until finding her home at Excela. Jess is in her second term on the Pivik PTO and currently the Vice President. In the little free time she has, you can find Jess at Larry Mills Park or the Plum Boro Fields watching her
kids play some of their many sports. Jess’s husband, Mike, is also a class of 1998 Plum grad and current member of our school board. She has three children; Lily (9 - 4th grade), Penny (7 – 2nd Grade), Michael aka ‘Chase’ (4 – Pre-K).
Tonya Edmonds
Tonya Edmonds is currently a Sr. Product Manager at MongoDB, focusing on database monitoring and observability. She previously held roles as an Adjunct Professor, High School Teacher, and Software Engineer. Tonya holds both a B.S. and M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Pittsburgh. In her free time, she enjoys running half marathons, biking, and traveling. Tonya resides in Pittsburgh, PA with her husband, Kelton, and two daughters. Tonya is passionate about STEM education and desires to create opportunities for underrepresented students to pursue careers in STEM.
Steven Fabian, Champion Trustee
Steven Fabian joined INSIDE EDITION as correspondent in September 2014.
Since then, Fabian has filed reports on the ground both internationally and across the U.S, including from the chaos at the Capitol during the Jan. 6 insurrection; the history-making Derek Chauvin trial for the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota; and President Biden's inauguration in Washington, D.C.
He's also reported on the coronavirus and its impact on our world, including an investigation into the cleanliness of hotels during the pandemic; demonstrations for racial justice in New York City, Ferguson, Missouri, and Baltimore, Maryland; the mass shooting at a Wal-Mart in El Paso, Texas; Hurricanes Florence and Michael; the mysterious deaths of American tourists in the Dominican Republic; the Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court confirmation hearings; the unsolved murders of two teens in Delphi, Indiana; the search for missing Iowa jogger Mollie Tibbetts; Jayme Closs' escape from captivity; and numerous stories from the campaign trail in 2016 and 2020.
Fabian has also traveled to the Bahamas to swim in open water with wild sharks, braved the cold to give viewers tips on how to survive the icy waters of a frozen lake, chatted with music's best from the Grammys red carpet, reported overseas from Scotland, Germany and Slovenia to investigate the origins of the Trump family, and cheered on the champs from two U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team World Cup victory parades in New York City.
Before coming to INSIDE EDITION, he was the host of the television show “RightThisMinute,” airing in syndication nationwide. An unscripted and ad-libbed broadcast, “RightThisMinute” Fabian reported on all the newsworthy, interesting and entertaining viral videos and stories circulating on the internet. Prior to joining “RTM,” Fabian served as an anchor and reporter for the long-running, award-winning news program geared for teenagers, “Channel One News." On “Channel One,” Fabian was viewed by a daily audience of 6 million teenagers nationwide, while producing, shooting, writing and editing many of his own stories.
Fabian has frequently appeared as a live guest on HLN to discuss his field reporting on various true crime stories across America. He's also reported for CBS News, appeared as a guest on the “CBS Early Show,” served as a regular host of “Backstage Live” at the “CBS Early Show” and fronted various web-based video programs way back before the days of YouTube.
Throughout his earlier career, Fabian reported on the ground from the drug war in Juarez, Mexico, covered the entirety of the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, traveled throughout the United States and Germany for an investigative series on the rise of hate groups here and abroad, and produced an in-depth story on baseball recruiting in the Dominican Republic.
Fabian was honored to throw out the ceremonial first pitch in his hometown of Pittsburgh before a Pittsburgh Pirates game in July 2014 at PNC Park. Fabian was also asked to be the first-ever male keynote speaker at a commencement ceremony for Alverno High School, an all-girls college prep school in Sierra Madre, California. As a teenager, Fabian hosted a Make-A-Wish Telethon at Plum Senior High School to raise more than $70,000 for the charity.
Follow him on Twitter at @StevenFabianTV, on Instagram at @stevenfabiantv, and Facebook at Steven Fabian.
Suzie Reck
Originally from Hanover, PA, Suzie Reck moved to Plum in 2012. She resides with her husband, daughters (ages 11 and 9), stepson (age 10), and stepdaughter (age 6). Suzie is a 2004 graduate of Juniata College. She earned an M.S. in Chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh and an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Cincinnati. Suzie has taught middle and high school science for the past 14 years at Riverview School District. She also serves as the Assistant Yearbook sponsor. Through Penn State New Kensington, Suzie serves as an educator with ABC Create, an organization that aims to improve STEAM education at schools in the Alle-Kiski Valley. She is a 3-time recipient of the MAC Grant and has presented at several STEAM education and data fluency workshops in the Pittsburgh area. Suzie is a member of Unity Community Church.
Kelly Fox Walsh
Kelly Fox Walsh is a professional makeup artist with over 18 years of experience in the beauty industry. She attended Clarion University and earned a degree from Joe Blasco Makeup Center, where she specialized in Beauty and Special Effects makeup for film, television, and print. Kelly lives in Plum with her husband Rich who is a Sports Anchor at KDKA-TV and their 4 children: Chayce 15 (10th grade), Olivia 13 (8th grade), Taegan 8 (3rd grade) & Quinn 7 (2nd grade). Kelly also volunteers with Friendship Circle which is a community-based program that brings together people of diverse abilities and interests.
Deanna Hadley
Deanna Hadley is a 2003 Plum High School Graduate who resides in the district with her husband, Dan, and their three children. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Health Services from Point Park University. After assuming many positions in different healthcare settings, she is currently working as a Surgical Sales Representative and an Operating Room Specialist for multiple organizations. Deanna also assists in managing the food truck and catering portion of her husband’s restaurant, Dad’s Pub and Grub. When not working, she volunteers as a softball coach for Plum High School and the Plum Boro Softball Association (PBSA). Along with coaching, she also serves on the PBSA board of directors as the Head of Fast Pitch Softball. Previously, Deanna has served as treasurer for the Plum Girls Basketball Boosters and lead some fundraising initiatives for the Donald Asmonga Foundation. Deanna feels honored to join the Plum Education Foundation, and is looking forward to doing all that she can to positively impact the educational experience of the students in Plum.
Chevonne Morgan
Chevonne Morgan is the Director of Strategic Accounts for Dodge Data and Analytics.
She has 3 children, Caydence, Mason and Lyvia. In her spare time, Chevonne spends most of her nights at a football field, basketball court or dance studio.
Chevonne has served on the Plum Midget Football Association board for the past 6 years as Secretary. Chevonne is also the President of the Plum Youth Lacrosse Organization.
She proudly resides in Plum with her husband, Matt Morgan and children, Caydence, Mason and Lyvia.
Matt Morgan, Champion Trustee
Matt Morgan has been coaching high school football for the past 15 years. He has spent the last 10 seasons as the head football coach for the Plum Mustangs. Prior to coaching, Matt was a 1999 Plum High School Graduate. He played football and participated in track.
After High school, Matt played college football at the University of Pittsburgh. He graduated with a Bachelor in Arts & Science. After college, Matt went on to play in the NFL for the St Louis Rams and Buffalo Bills. Matt has been with G&G Fitness Equipment since 2007 serving as a commercial account manager
He proudly resides in Plum with his wife Chevonne and his 3 children, Caydence, Mason and Lyvia.
Justin Newman
Justin and his family moved to Plum in the summer of 2013. They chose Plum after researching the surrounding Pittsburgh areas and found that Plum was rated the 6th safest neighborhood in the state! Another selling point was Plum was in the Top 100 schools in the state, out of close to 500 schools. A safe place to live and great educational opportunities for his kids secured Plum as the ideal place to purchase his first home. Justin is a proud Pitt alum, earning his Bachelor’s degree in Media Communications in 2003. Pitt is where he met his wife Shanna, married her on campus in 2005, and is also his employer, as he works in the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid as the Customer Service Manager. He also sits on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee in his office. Justin has been on a sideline of either soccer at Larry Mills with Plum Area Youth Soccer or on a basketball court with the Plum Boro Basketball Association and Sampson Family YMCA since 2013 for his sons Quentin and Kenyon. Justin is also a co-founder for Barbecue Chicken University, a free sports program for area youth. As a father of two boys, the focus on the physical and mental well-being of children has always been very important to Justin. It will help to ensure his children and their peers are set up to succeed inside and outside the classroom.
Shawna Newman
Shanna, her husband Justin, and their family moved to Plum in 2013, shortly before their oldest began Kindergarten. Their boys, Quentin and Kenyon are now in 9th and 5th grade respectively. Over the years our family has been involved in several local activities including: Plum Area Youth Soccer, PBBO and YMCA basketball programs, Plum Midget Football and a variety of sports with BBQ Chicken University, where Shanna currently sits as a board member.
Shanna is a graduate of The University of Pittsburgh with an Associate degree as a Physical Therapist’s Assistant, a Bachelor’s in Applied Developmental Psychology and a Master’s in Early Intervention. She has worked in the field of Early Intervention for 17+ years and has dedicated her career to supporting children with developmental delays and their families. Additionally, Shanna has her Infant Mental Health certificate from Chatham.
Shanna understands the importance of physical, mental and emotional health as well as how they can impact the lives of children and their families. She is excited about the opportunity to join the Plum Mustang Foundation and looks forward to helping enhance the lives of more children and families within the Plum community.
Dr. Renee' Richardson, Plum Distinguished Alumni Liaison
Dr. Renee' M. Richardson has been living in Plum with her husband Shawn since 2010. Shawn and Renee' have three sons, all currently in the Plum School District. Renee' is a Doctor of Pharmacy graduate from Duquesne University and has been employed with Giant Eagle for over 17 years. She is the Senior Manager of Pharmacy, Community Relations where she leads the Pharmacy's Inclusion, Equity, and Diversity strategy, manages relationships with various community partners, and oversees Community Practice Residents. Renee' has held various leadership positions with the district PTOs, booster organizations, and youth sports organizations. Renee' is a member of the Plum Chamber of Commerce and serves as The Chamber Secretary. Renee' also serves on the boards of the Allegheny County Pharmacists Association and the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association.
Heather Racchini
Penn State University-Graduated 2000 with a Double Major of Accounting and International Business-Studied abroad while there for a semester in Costa Rica.
Deloitte & Touche-Auditor from 2000-2002
Dernar & Associates-CPA working on tax returns, audits, reviews, compilations, etc. from 2002-present
Volunteer Board Member for Sampson YMCA, Plum High Music Boosters, and Plum Cross Country Boosters
Previous Board Member for Holiday Park Elementary PTO and Oblock PSSO
Current Treasurer for Mt Hope Community UP Church
Mom to Three Kids Giustino,17 yrs old, Mario, 15 yrs old, and Lexi, 12 yrs old
Married to Joe Racchini, Teacher at Franklin Regional School District since 2000.
Kenneth Smythe-Leistico
Dr. Ken Smythe-Leistico is the Director of Field Education (MSW) and Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Work at Carlow University. He teaches courses in both the BSW and MSW programs. His areas of expertise include parent-family-community engagement, school social work, school performance, attendance strategies, and non-profit communication strategies. He was recently awarded a 1.9 million dollar grant to increase student placements in rural and medically served areas.
Dr. Ken was the former Assistant Director of the University of Pittsburgh Office of Child Development (OCD). He researched, developed, and implemented programs that target children and families transitioning into kindergarten while reducing chronic absence. His blend of research to practice was demonstrated through the development of a trademarked brand for kindergarten and a website with practical tools and resources for transition (www.readyfreddy.org) which was recognized by National Head Start as a “Promising Practice”. Ken was featured as an Emerging Leader by the Harvard Family Involvement Network of Educators, honored by Pittsburgh Magazine as one of the regions “40 under 40”, and is the author of several articles, book chapters, and a children’s book. Ken has been an invited speaker and trainer with over 100 national presentations that focused on kindergarten transition, utilizing technology to improve outcomes for families and children, and using decision making science and branding to improve the reach of non-profit organizations.
RJ Umberger, Champion Trustee
RJ Umberger is a 1996 -1998 Plum High School Student Athlete. He was a member of Plum Hockey’s 1998 W.P.I.H.L AAA League Championship. He was a 2003 NCAA All-American with the Ohio State Buckeyes and a 2001 NHL 1st Round 16th Overall Draft Pick by the Vancouver Canucks. He has played 11 Years Amassing 779 Games in the NHL for the Philadelphia Flyers and Columbus Blue Jackets. He is a 2011 Graduate of The Ohio State University with a Bachelor Degree in Business Marketing. He is a member of the Plum Athletic Hall of Fame (2012), The Ohio State Athletic Hall of Fame (2019), and PA Sports State Hall of Fame (2021) and an USA Hockey Level IV Certified Coach.
Mary Beth Tedrick
Mary Beth and her husband, CJ, have lived in Plum for the past 11 years with their three boys, Joshua, Michael and Ryan. They are very active in the Plum Community and enjoy being involved in everything.
For the past 5 years, Mary Beth has served as the Chairman of the Board for the Plum Chamber. Last December, she stepped down from the board to serve in the capacity of President of the Chamber. She is the secretary for Plum Rotary and treasurer for both the Plum High Baseball Boosters and Plum PTO Presidents Council.
Mary Beth has a Masters in Education. After teaching for 17 years, she retired to help her brother start a family business. Their goal was to help the small businesses and organizations in Plum. This goal has been realized so they started an additional company.
In her free time, you will find her cheering on her kids in one of their games, spending quality time with her family or hanging out with her girlfriends.
John Zahorchak, Champion Trustee
Mr. John Zahorchak, MBA, has over 13 years of experience working for children in education as a school business official. Most recently, John serves as a consultant for the Pennsylvania Department of Education as a Chief Recovery Officer. He is tasked with developing and implementing a financial recovery plan for the Sto-Rox School District. The plan consists of five key components:
Focus on Instruction
Climate and Culture
Talent Management
Resource Management
Safety
Prior to his current assignment, John was the Chief Financial Officer for Plum Borough School District, responsible for leadership of financial operations, plant operations, custodial, facility, transportation and food service. During his tenure, the District fund balance increased by $15 million. He built long-range financial models designed to ensure the financial stability of the District.
John strives to enhance the education process within the school setting through effective business management practices. His goal in school business is to support the staff to ensure that students achieve with accountability to the taxpayer. His background is in business, obtaining both B.S. and MBA, from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. His educational background includes, among other areas, strategic planning, financial analysis, employee relations, employee recruiting and retention, management and economic analysis.