School District

"Where Tradition Dictates a Standard of Excellence"

Meet the School Board

Merilu Hill - Board President

Term Expires

2027

Merilu was elected to the school board in 2019, she currently serves as the President but has served as Vice-President, Chair of Disciplinary, member of Finance, Employee Relations, Athletics and Curriculum Committees. Merilu is a 1994 graduate of BASD. She went on to earn her Bachelor's degree from Kent State University in 1998 and then a Master of Education in School Counseling from the University of the Southwest in 2017. She has worked as a 9-12 school counselor and is an author of non-fiction books for women. She and her husband Ken and their four children moved back to Beaver Area School District in 2016 after traveling for her husband's military career. She is raising her children in her childhood home, community, and school district, where her children are sixth generation to attend. At the heart of who she is and because of her counseling background, she believes that every student has the ability and talent to be successful. Greatness happens when someone believes in you and gives you the tools necessary to flourish.

Committees: CTC (Beaver County Career & Technology Center) Alternate

Contact information: [email protected]

Andrea Walker - Board Vice-President

Term Expires
2025

A 1999 graduate of Seneca Valley High School, Andrea Walker has resided in Beaver for many years. After obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services from Geneva College, Andrea earned a Master’s Degree in School Counseling from Slippery Rock University. She worked as a guidance counselor at Butler High School before retiring to become a stay-at-home mother. Currently, Andrea works as a teacher’s aide in the three-year-old room at Four Mile Church Preschool, which she finds extremely rewarding. Additionally, Andrea has served as a team leader for Discovery Christian Church’s A Night to Remember - Pittsburgh since its inception in 2012, and the co-director of the Rachel A. Mogielski Scholarship Fund, an official state-recognized charitable organization that has awarded over $190,000 to graduating high school seniors, since 2008. She resides in Brighton Township with her husband Nate and their three children, Maddie, Lydia, and Tyler. A proud Bobcat, Andrea is honored to serve on the BASD school board of directors as a voice for students, teachers, and the community.

Committees: Safety Committee Chair

Contact Information: [email protected]

Victoria Bartholomew - Treasurer

Term Expires
2027

Victoria was elected to the School Board in November 2023. Born and raised in the Beaver area, Victoria is an alumni of Beaver Area High School class of 2008. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education from the University of Utah in 2013. During her undergraduate studies she gained experience working at a live-in treatment facility for troubled youth, and then as a Manager at the House of Hope in Salt Lake City, Utah. At House of Hope Victoria supervised staff and directly assisted previously incarcerated women who were working to regain custody of their children. Upon graduation, Victoria worked as a special education teacher at a public school in Utah. She later continued her career at a charter school in Ohio. Her work experience broadened when she accepted a position as Site Supervisor at the Learning Spectrum in Columbus, Ohio. Her responsibility in this leadership role was to facilitate the needs and interests of the parents, the student's IEP, the parent's private school of choice, the family's assigned public school district, and the staff who worked directly with the student. Since moving back to Pennsylvania, Victoria has taught in a preschool and currently runs her own business as a piano and violin teacher. In addition to her work experience, Victoria is very active in her church community and has volunteered in various leadership roles at the county and Pittsburgh North Regional levels. She is actively volunteering in the Beaver community with the Shaw Park Project, Special Olympics, various youth sports teams, the Pittsburgh Civic Orchestra, and a local Girl Scout Troop. Victoria lives in Brighton Township with her husband Kyle and their four young children. Victoria feels very blessed to raise her family in her home town and send her children to the Beaver Area School District. She is excited for the opportunity to give back to the school district closest to her heart as a School Board Director.

Committees: Education, Facilities & Grounds, Finance

Contact information: [email protected]

Luke Berardelli

Term Expires

2027

Luke Berardelli was re-elected to a second term in November 2023. He is a graduate of Beaver High School, class of 1999; completed his undergraduate studies at IUP, and received his Master’s degree from Robert Morris University in 2015. Mr. Berardelli works in the healthcare sales industry and currently leads the sales team for a start-up organization that manufactures Artificial Intelligence software for medical imaging. Luke has three children, all in district schools and resides in Brighton Township. Luke proudly serves as a member of the Board for the Fort McIntosh Foundation; a non-profit serving Beaver County.

Committees: Athletics, CTC (Beaver County Career & Technology Center) Legislative, Safety

Contact information: [email protected]

Aaron Bovalino

Term Expires
2025

Aaron Bovalino was elected to the School Board in November 2017. Aaron is a 1990 graduate and lifelong resident of the Beaver Area School District. Aaron would most rather spend time with his wife, Roxanne, and play with his two children, Evan and Isla. Aaron earned his M.A.Ed. from the University of Pittsburgh. With 20 years of public school education experience, Aaron intends to provide analytical and assessment skills that can be applied to make objective, educated, and practical decisions. Aaron considers his ties to the community and parents of school age children to qualify him to reflect a collective interest to his governance position as a member of the Beaver Area School Board.

Committees: Athletics Committee Chair

Contact information: [email protected]

Mark Korcinsky

Term Expires
2025

Dr. Mark A. Korcinsky is an experienced educational leader, veteran, parent, and husband. He has been in education for several decades serving as a former teacher, coach, educational leader and advocate for students, teachers and school leaders. His experience spans across Baltimore County (MD), Beaver Area, Springdale Area, Hopewell Area and Seneca Valley School Districts; and he is currently serving in the Bethel Park School District as the Assistant Superintendent for Facilities & Operations.

During his time on the BASD Board of Directors, Dr. Korcinsky advocates for public education and the importance of parent involvement. He continues to advocate for and support improved communication across many platforms for all constituents, expanding growth and progress opportunities, flexibility of instruction for all students and teachers, and increased student participation in extracurricular activities.

Prior to his time on the BASD Board of Directors, Dr. Korcinsky earned his Bachelor's Degree in Biology and Secondary Education Certification from Mercyhurst University. He went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration and Leadership as well as Principal's Certification from Franciscan University of Steubenville. Furthering his education, he earned a Superintendent's Letter of Eligibility from Westminster College and a Doctorate of Education from Point Park University.

Advocating for students, educators, and parents, Dr. Korcinsky served thirteen years at the local, state, and federal levels as a PA State Advocate for the Pennsylvania Principals Association and the National Association of Secondary School Principals. He honorably served and is retired from the US Army/Army Reserve serving in leadership positions ranging from Commander, Executive Officer, Aide de Camp and Special Projects Officer across the globe within the Medical Service Corps and Corps of Engineers.

Dr. Korcinsky resides in Brighton Township with wife, Nancy, and two sons. He has been active in the community as a volunteer coach for youth sports, shade tree commission member, and cub scout team leader as well as booster and community organizations.

Committees: Finance Committee Chair, Facilities & Grounds
Contact information: [email protected]

Karin Pilarski

Term Expires
2025

Karin Pilarski was elected to the School Board in November 2021. A 1997 graduate of Beaver High School, Karin earned Bachelor of Science degrees in Elementary Education and Child Psychology from Elizabethtown College in 2001. She continued her education at the University of Pittsburgh, earning both a Master’s degree in Administration and Policy Studies and her Principal’s Certification. Most recently, Ms. Pilarski earned her Superintendent Letter of Eligibility. Karin taught Kindergarten and Second Grade before becoming the Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Federal/Special Programs for the Western Beaver County School District in 2005. In 2014, she became a Trainer and Consultant at the Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit where she continues to provide professional development opportunities to Beaver County school districts. Pilarski recently became an appointed member of the Beaver Area Memorial Library Board of Directors. Additionally, she served as an appointed Trustee and former President of the Beaver Area School District Education Foundation.

Committees: Education, Finance, BASD representative for the PSBA Delegate Assembly, Member of the Beaver Area Memorial Library Board of Directors

Contact information: [email protected]

Robin Thompson

Term Expires

2027

Robin Thompson resides in Brighton Twp with her husband, David and their five sons who attended school in the Beaver School District. Robin graduated from New Brighton High School in 1983. She went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education from Slippery Rock University and a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice Administration and Management. Robin’s passion for children started at the age of 15 when she worked at McGuire Memorial Home. She has spent her career working in human services. Currently, she is the Executive Director of Adoption Connection, PA, a non-profit that provides foster care and adoption services. Robin and David have had the privilege to be foster and adoptive parents to 20 children. In 2020, she was voted Beaver County Times Best of the Valley Person of the Year for her dedication and service to youth in her community. In her spare time, she volunteers at her children’s sporting events, serves on the Board of Directors for Perfect Love and for Washington County Children and Youth Advisory Board and CO-Chairs on the Pennsylvania’s Citizens Review Panel.

Committees: Facilities & Grounds Chair, Athletics, BVIU (Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit)

Contact information: [email protected]

Denise Yates

Term Expires
2027

Denise Yates joined the School Board in December 2015. Denise has spent her entire professional career serving Pennsylvania children. She started as a teacher of elementary and middle school students and then moved to the opening of a multicultural school developing a multicultural curriculum course. Next, Denise continued her professional knowledge by furthering her education, as well as attending and presenting at national conferences, taking advantage of all professional opportunities to be a continuous learner. She served as an assistant administrator, a building principal, and last she was a central office administrator as the Senior Program Officer for Literacy Pre K - 12. During that time she wrote and received a $16 million grant, the single largest district grant to that date. Additionally, Denise taught pre service teachers at Duquesne University and worked as a student teacher supervisor for Carlow University. She was trained in conflict resolution over a 3 year period from the International Center for Cooperation of Conflict Resolution (ICCCR) at Columbia University. Denise used her knowledge to design, develop and deliver training models to children and adults in K - 12 schools and a graduate level class in the school of Political Science at Duquesne University. She has been a resident of Beaver for more than 40 years, raised a graduate of Beaver High School, and spends much time with her grandson, Ethan.

Committees: Education Committee Chair, Safety

Contact information: [email protected]