I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere pleasure and gratitude in becoming the Principal at Neil Armstrong Middle School. I have thoroughly enjoyed working as Ms. O’Rourke’s Assistant Principal for the past four years and I am excited to embark on this new journey in my professional career. Neil Armstrong enjoys a rich history of academic and cultural excellence that is the result of a collegial partnership between the school staff and parents who provide a diversity of experiences for our students.

During my years here, I have indeed found this close working relationship to be an integral part of making our school climate one in which focuses upon what is best for the children to exist and succeed. I am truly honored to be appointed to this position and am looking forward to working with the dedicated staff, parents, and members of the Bethel Park community to provide the best educational program for our students.

My greatest initiative is to provide the leadership that will facilitate a school environment that provides differentiated instruction to meet the needs of each student to the best of our ability. Our educational program must be academically challenging, engaging each student by linking the curriculum to previous knowledge and experience, and also be exciting to promote further exploration of new ideas. Parents, teachers, support staff, and administration all have an important role to encourage our children to become active learners. It is my genuine desire to provide expanded opportunities for our students to acquire the skills to become productive citizens in an infinitely changing society.

As the spring season approaches, we have many exciting events to look forward to at Neil Armstrong. Among them is the launching of our new HERO program. This program is a school-wide incentive and interaction plan focused on coaching and reinforcing positive school choices among the students. Through this program, we plan to enhance our student-centered environment with positive and fun school-wide activities and interaction. An additional component of this program will also include some parent evening sessions with topics including cyber issues and Internet safety.
I am currently planning these sessions with the help from some of my staff members and more detailed information will be coming your way.

Finally, in March and April, students will also be demonstrating the results of their hard work through their performance on the PSSA’s. I have great confidence in our teachers, support staff, and students that they will shine during this time and ultimately reinforce the fact that Neil Armstrong Middle School is one of the best schools around!

I look forward to working with all of you in continuing to make Neil Armstrong the best that it can possibly be.

Thank you,

Michael Brookie
Principal