Many students recognize the familiar faces of the four assistant principals at State High, but how many know the individual stories and perspectives that shape our school community? National Assistant Principals Week, celebrated April 6-10, highlights the essential faces of State High’s leadership team. 

To recognize their impact, State High celebrated Assistant Principals Week with a series of activities to ensure their hard work doesn’t go unnoticed. These moments of appreciation reflected the lasting impact of the assistant principals on students, faculty and staff. 

“They are invested in every aspect of kids in the school. I think sometimes people think, ‘we are principals, or we are assistant principals,’ and they are the disciplinarian. That is just a small piece. They truly want to be with students and see them grow, learn and have fun with kids,” State High Principal Laura Tobias said. “I think for me, Assistant Principal Week is to give them a chance on their schedule to go be in classes with kids and have fun.”

To kick off the week’s celebrations, the assistant principals participated in an investigation and solved a mock murder with State High’s forensics class. Tuesday continued with the team visiting a genetics class where they built monsters using different genetic factors. On Wednesday, they explored animation in an art class. The recognition carried over into the Aspire Ed class through icebreaker games on Thursday. To conclude the week, the assistant principals faced off in the Roar Store Rumble, each competing to sell an assigned drink during the lunch periods. 

Beyond the celebrations, Assistant Principals Week showcases the importance of students getting to know their assistant principals beyond their role. Each of State High’s four assistant principals brings a unique approach to helping students succeed in and out of the classroom. 

Dr. Danielle Ambrosia: Passion for Student Success 

Recognized as Pennsylvania’s 2026 Assistant Principal of the Year, Ambrosia plays a key role in guiding students through their first year at State High through her role as ninth-grade administrator. 

Her journey into education began when her college advisor encouraged her to consider becoming an English teacher because of her love of reading, writing and kids. 

“I was like, no. Then he kept cycling back because he was a really great mentor. Ultimately, I took one or two classes, and I pushed into Hazleton Area High School. I was like, ‘this is what I should be doing with my life,’” Ambrosia said.

After watching an AP 11th-grade English class reading “The Crucible,” Ambrosia declared her major.

Prior to entering administration, Ambrosia taught in the English department for 11 years. She made the step into administration to be prepared for future opportunities. 

“When my kids were really young, I decided that I wanted to go into administration, because I wanted to have that certificate in case anything ever came up. Coming out of COVID, I completed my internship with Mrs. Tobias when she was an assistant principal,” Ambrosia said. “There were multiple positions in the district that opened up here at the high school, and I thought, I am just going to interview for the practice. And they hired me. I was really not planning that, but it just kind of happened. I think one of the things my career path has taught me is that when you keep your options open, things usually fall into place in a timely way.”

“Dr. Ambrosia, she was my intern. She is so fast and efficient with communication, and her lens for communication is really helpful from a team perspective. She is fiery and has that little bit of sass, which I like on the team,” Tobias said.

That perspective is reflected in the way she directly communicates with students. 

“I think my favorite job is working with students to find accountability for behaviors. I really love the conversations I have with students because, in my experience, the vast majority of students at State High really own what they do. There is always more than one side of the story, so it is helpful to investigate and to make sure people have clarity. I feel like we are trying to, in ninth grade, build an understanding of what it means to look like a high school student, act like one and behave like one,” Ambrosia said. 

“I really try to treat students how I would want my children treated,” she continued. “Reminding everybody who works in a school setting that the standard of care should be what you want for your own kids. We want all kids to grow, all kids to thrive and not just State High kids, but kids in the United States.”

Her mindset today is shaped by her own experiences as a student, emphasizing the value of hard work. 

“Hard work outpaces talent every time. I was never the smartest kid in school. I never took an advanced course. I was a strong athlete, but not at a scholarship-level, and I think all those experiences helped me learn to deal with adversity and overcome challenges. It can be frustrating when you always feel like you are being surpassed by others, but if you have a strong work ethic, in the long term, it plays way more to your favor than if you are naturally gifted or talented,” Ambrosia said. 

Beyond the school day, Ambrosia lives on a farm with her husband and two kids, hoping to expand to sell eggs and plants beyond their home. Students might find her at Wegmans because of her love for cooking, especially chicken parmesan. If Ambrosia were not an assistant principal, she would see herself as a restaurant manager. 

“I would try to operate a restaurant. I really love working with people. I love the specific interactions we have every day. I think doing something where I am out with people is really cool,” Ambrosia said. 

At the center of Ambrosia’s work at State High is a passion for supporting students through the challenges of high school.

Susan Hipp: Fostering Meaningful Connections 

Bringing nearly 30 years of experience in elementary education, teaching second, fourth and fifth grade, Hipp brings a unique perspective to her role as assistant principal, working with students in grades 10 (A-HO) and 11-12 (A-G). 

“Susan Hipp brings an elementary background. She brings a lens of, well, in elementary school, this is kind of how we did it. This is what we work on. Maybe it is with special education, teachers or students,” Tobias said. 

Hipp’s inspiration to go into education stemmed from her college friends, who were education majors. Hipp’s focus remained on raising her two sons and teaching at Mount Nittany Elementary School until they were past high school, after which she began pursuing new opportunities. 

“Since I started teaching, I have always wanted to go into administration. I did not for the longest time, because I have two sons, so it was just traveling with them all the time. I never had the time to do that. Now that they are a little older and do not need to drive them everywhere. That is when I decided to pursue what I have always wanted to do,” Hipp said. 

Her background in elementary education continues to shape her approach at State High, with a strong focus on building relationships and connections with students. 

“My favorite part of the job is when I get to be out in the halls and get to be with the students, or if I have students in here [in my office]. That is the best part of my day,” Hipp said. 

Her connection to students is rooted not only in her love for getting to know each individual student, but also in her own experience walking the same halls as a State High graduate. 

“I am a State High grad, and it is pretty cool to be back where I started,” Hipp said. “Enjoy your time here. Enjoy your friends, enjoy the teachers. Just enjoy this whole experience, because it is such a great place to go to school. Going off to college, going off and having an adult life and coming back to here, you just realize this was such a fun place to be, and I am so glad to be back here.”

Outside of State High, Hipp enjoys listening to music across a wide range of genres, watching movies, and traveling. She stays active in her free time, often at the gym, hiking or playing with her Boxer, Rocco. In college, Hipp taught fitness classes at a gym. 

“I was a trainer. I worked with people, and that was so much fun. I taught everything. I taught specific abs and different types of cardio,” Hipp said. 

In addition to her love of staying active, Hipp is a sports fanatic and participated on State High’s Cheer Team as a student. 

For Hipp, the most meaningful part of her role comes from the lasting connections she forms with students.

Ryan Walsh: Leading with Experience 

With years of experience in the district, Walsh has served as a Social Studies teacher, Social Studies Coordinator and assistant athletic director, before now bringing that experience to his current position as assistant principal for grades 10 (HU-P) and 11 and 12 (H-O). 

“Ryan Walsh is unique because he was an assistant athletic director here for years. He was an admin before some of these other people, and a social studies teacher. I think he brings years of experience with SCASD to the team. I have been here 10 years. He has been here a whole lot longer,” Tobias said. 

Growing up surrounded by educators played an important role in Walsh’s decision to pursue a career in education. 

“My dad was a teacher. Both of my older brothers are teachers. It is just something that I think I have always wanted to do,” Walsh said. “I was in the classroom for 21 years, and then this opportunity popped up with Dr. Ambrosia and Dr. Wilson. I have known them both since they were in their 20s, so we kind of all taught together. The team was my motivation to make that jump.”

Despite leaving the classroom, Walsh has continued to build relationships with students.

“I think I have always tried to do whatever is in the best interest of the kids. Every kid has different needs at that moment, and as long as you focus on that student, it is positive. We are not creating widgets, right? It is not like it is an assembly line. Every kid is different, and you just do not know what is going on in their life,” Walsh said. 

Walsh recognizes students’ individuality, and through his work, he is able to make a difference. 

“My favorite part of my job is getting to interact with students. Normally, if someone comes to the office, they have done something, right? So, trying to build relationships with students who have made a bad decision or something’s going on in their life is the most fun I have in the day,” Walsh said. 

In high school, Walsh served as class president for four years and as basketball captain, but often found himself in the principal’s office. 

“I was always kind of outspoken. I went to Catholic school from first grade through 12th grade. Sometimes sarcasm is lost on the nuns, so I would find my way into the principal’s office from time to time, which has helped me in this role to understand and read situations and try to piece them together,” Walsh said. 

Outside of school, Walsh has an impressive shoe collection, with 24 pairs of Jordans, that he always tries to match with his outfit. 

“Growing up, I always wanted Jordans when I was a kid. My mom was never big into spending that much money on sneakers, so it was really her saying to me, ‘When you have a job, one day, you could buy whatever shoes you want to buy.’ When I became a teacher, I started to have student teachers. You get a little bit of money when you have student teachers, and I would take a little bit of money and buy a new pair of Jordans,” Walsh said. 

Walsh has two dogs, which he frequently walks after school, and enjoys listening to music and watching sports. 

Through his years of experience, Walsh brings a perspective that allows him to better understand and support his students. 

Dr. Brett Wilson: Lasting Impact

Having spent his entire career at State High, Wilson has gone from a Social Studies teacher to assistant principal to his current role as associate principal for grades 10 (Q-Z) and 11 and 12 (P-Z).  Throughout these roles, Wilson has sought ways to reach students and positively impact their time at State High. 

Education was always a part of his life growing up, and influenced his decision on what to study in college. 

“My dad was always on the school board growing up. My older brother, he was a teacher and is now one of the elementary principals in the district,” Wilson said. “I did not go to college until I was 21, and I never changed my major either. Once I went in, I was in for social studies. Education is just something that I stuck with.”

The foundation of his family’s educational background inspired his goals in the classroom and as an administrator. 

“I miss the classroom still sometimes, but I think that in administration, there is a bigger impact that you can have, whether it be on the building itself, on the school community or working with the teachers. It is different than just the small group of kids that I got to have in all my classes. I like that bigger view of the district and how I could help,” Wilson said. 

The assistant principal team thrives on the balance of each assistant principal’s distinct personality. 

“Dr. Wilson, is the quiet to my crazy. I come up with some crazy ideas. He makes me pause and think. He is more of my quiet leader; he is always there. He is in it, but he might not be at the front of the camera. I need that balance,” Tobias said.

“I take pride in the part anytime I can help a student be successful, whether that is a student who graduates, that had gone through something in their four years here, whether it is a student who is working through a course that I can help out with, or a situation I can help out with. It is really rewarding when I see kids be successful,” Wilson said. 

Outside of school, he tends to start his day early, considering himself a morning person. 

“I typically try to go to the gym before work, so I get up at four o’clock every day, which means that most days I am asleep before the sun is down,” Wilson said. 

Hockey has been a passion for Wilson since he was six years old. 

“I realized pretty quickly, coming out of high school, like after college, I would definitely be able to play, but I did not have the skill or size to be able to earn a career in hockey, so I definitely had education to fall back on,” Wilson said. “I would love it if I could have been a professional athlete, but that just was not in the cards for me.”

Wilson’s impact continues to shine through the students during their time at State High and beyond graduation.

Celebrating Lasting Impact 

Although Assistant Principal Week is only one week, State High’s assistant principals deserve daily recognition for their hard work and dedication to improving the school community. 

“This is a high-flying team in the high school. People need to realize that they are here for students, and for our faculty and staff,” Tobias said. “For me, it is really about thanking them for being such great teammates. I cannot thank them enough. I could not do this job without them. I want to celebrate them because they bring so much to our high school.”