Dr. Timothy Mahoney
A “driving desire to see students succeed” is just one reason Timothy Mahoney, Fox Chapel Area School District's director of special education and pupil services, thinks Fox Chapel Area School District is the perfect match for his skill set and goals. Dr. Mahoney said his special education background provides him with a unique way of looking at things, and he likes that the district focuses on a “growth mindset.”
“The ideals within the district matched my own personal educational beliefs in regard to individual growth for all students and learning outside of the typical instructional pathways that people think about when considering a K-12 public school,” he said. “I was really excited to learn how deeply the district focused on the individual student and worked toward growing that individual throughout his or her educational career.”
Since arriving at Fox Chapel Area in December 2016 (he first served as an assistant principal at Dorseyville Middle School), Dr. Mahoney has been impressed with the district’s many innovative programs and the support systems that go so far as to foster student interest in the learning experience. He has also been impressed with the staff and community involvement in the district.
His biggest goal, he said, is to ingrain himself in the Fox Chapel Area community. That should be easy given his genuine care for students.
“In large, I hope that through my time at Fox Chapel Area, I can be someone that students, parents, and teachers can rely on to be a driving force toward student success,” he said. “Individually, I hope to bring my work with establishing an effective model for intervention and multi-tiered supports to the district so that we can further establish a systematic approach to supporting all learners.”
Dr. Mahoney has already proven himself as an educational leader during his tenure as an RtII (Response to Instruction and Intervention)/MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) specialist and the special education department chairperson for students in grades 7-12 in the Pine-Richland School District. He worked to establish an effective K-12 RtII program that focused on data-based decision-making for intervention. Additionally, in just his first two years there, he successfully implemented an effective process for PSSA and Keystone Exam remediation that yielded the highest student achievement and Student Performance Profile (SPP) in Western Pennsylvania, as well as one of the top in the state.
In addition to working at Pine-Richland, Dr. Mahoney taught at The Watson Institute and the Butler Area School District.
Dr. Mahoney graduated with a bachelor of science degree in psychology and special education certification from Lycoming College in Williamsport. He completed a master’s degree in special education supervision from Slippery Rock University, earned his principal’s certificate from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and completed his doctoral degree at Point Park University.
Originally from the Philadelphia (Bucks County) area, Dr. Mahoney and his wife, Kristen, who is from the North Hills, moved to the area after they graduated from college. He has never looked back, other than the times Philadelphia and Pittsburgh sports teams play against each other, he says. The couple has two sons. He and his family are very active, and during weekends, they can be found on hikes exploring the wilderness, working on house remodeling, or attending community events in the greater Pittsburgh area. Additionally, Dr. Mahoney has been involved with athletics “all of his life” and has coached football both at the college and high school levels.
Contact Information
Dr. Timothy Mahoney
Director of Special Education and Pupil Services
(412) 967-2435
timothy_mahoney@fcasd.edu
Cindy Misencik
Secretary to the Director of Special Education and Pupil Services
(412) 967-2468
cindy_misencik@fcasd.edu
