Principals announced at 2 newly merged Catholic schools

Principals have been chosen for two newly merged Catholic schools in the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

Robert Munz, an educator of 21 years and administrator in the diocese for the last decade, was selected to lead the new elementary formed by the merger of St. Philip in Crafton and St. Margaret of Scotland in Green Tree.

Munz, “has a long history with the diocese and in education,” said Michelle Peduto, director of Catholic schools. “He will bring healing, love, faith and compassion to the families of this new merger.”

Munz has spent the last four years as an administrator at St. Margaret of Scotland. In a letter of introduction to new school families and parishioners, Munz said he hopes to make the new school “truly a special place.”

“I believe that all of our Catholic schools in our diocese are truly a treasure,” he said. “We will continue to bring both of our schools together into one solid school community. There are so many wonderful things happening at both campuses. I would like to build upon these successes.”

Donald Militzer was selected as principal for the merger of St. Elizabeth of Hungary in Pleasant Hills and St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin in Whitehall. Militzer has been part of the Diocese of Pittsburgh for more than 15 years, officials said. He has been an elementary school teacher and vice principal, and spent the last four years as principal at St. Gabriel.

“This newly merged school will be my family,” Militzer said of the new elementary school. “If the challenges we have all faced from March 2020 to now have taught us anything, it is that together we can conquer anything.”

The diocese announced the elementary school mergers in February, saying it was “part of the regional school board’s efforts to strengthen Catholic schooling in the south region.”

In the 2021-2022 school year, Saint Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin in Whitehall will merge with Saint Elizabeth of Hungary in Pleasant Hills. The new school will use Saint Gabriel’s campus.

Saint Margaret of Scotland in Green Tree and Saint Philip in Crafton will merge, with the new school to be located at the Saint Margaret campus.

New school names will be announced soon, officials said.

“I am both excited and hopeful about the future leadership of these two new schools,” said Sharon Loughran-Brown, a regional administrator. “Both veteran principals are deeply committed to academic excellence and Catholic identity and mission.”