Beaver Area

School District

"Where Tradition Dictates a Standard of Excellence"

Meet the School Board

Robin Thompson - Board President

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: Athletics, BVIU (Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit), PSBA (Pennsylvania School Boards Association) Liaison

Contact information: Click here for email

Victoria Bartholomew - Board Vice President

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: Finance Committee (Chair), Facilities & Grounds, Board of the Beaver County Special School Authority District Rep for the CTC and BVIU

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Steven Neeley Jr. - Board Treasurer

Term Expires
2029

Dr. Steven Neeley Jr. was born and raised in Beaver School District and has a deep love and appreciation for the many people and programs in the district that helped make him the person he is today. After high school graduation he moved to Utah to attend Brigham Young University where he received a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science. During that time he also served a two year service mission for his church in California helping him to build on his Spanish education he received in Beaver High School and become fluent in Spanish. He married his high school sweetheart the year before starting dental school. He attended A.T. Still University in Missouri where he received his doctor of dental medicine degree. Upon finishing his degree in Missouri he bought a dental practice back in Beaver and has been here since raising his three beautiful children with his wife, Paige. Dr. Neeley enjoys spending time with his family, serving in his church and community and playing sports and staying active.

Committees: Personnel (Chair), Finance

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Aaron Bovalino

Term Expires
2029

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), Finance

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Michael Litchfield

Term Expires
2029

Dr. Michael Litchfield was elected to the Board in November 2025. He earned his Bachelor’s of Science in Biology from Utah Valley University in 2018 and received his Doctorate of Dental Medicine degree from A.T. Still University in Missouri in 2022. While in College, he helped underserved teens with special needs develop life skills, as well as finish their high school education. Dr. Litchfield currently practices as a Dentist at Neeley Litchfield Dental. He resides in Brighton Township and has two children who attend school within the district. Michael also serves his community through active involvement in volunteer efforts with his church.

Committees: Facilities & Grounds (Chair)
Contact information: Click here for email

Karin Pilarski

Term Expires
2029

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 Committee (Chair), Personnel, Member of the Beaver Area Memorial Library Board of Directors
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Rosemary Rush

Term Expires

2027

Rosemary Rush is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience working with adolescents, adults, families, and communities.

Rosemary earned her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Pittsburgh with a concentration in Direct Practice and her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary and Special Education from Duquesne University. She is a 1998 graduate of Beaver Area High School and a lifetime Beaver resident.

As a private practice therapist associated with the Christian Counselors Collaborative, Rosemary works with diverse populations addressing mental health, trauma, grief and loss, addiction, family relationships, and life transitions. She has worked alongside schools, families, community organizations and churches to promote student and family well-being. Her experience includes working in behavioral health, crisis intervention, alternative education settings, adolescent addiction treatment and as an adjunct instructor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work.

Rosemary is passionate about strengthening schools, supporting educators and ensuring that students have the opportunity to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. She believes that effective leadership requires listening, thoughtful decision-making, collaboration, and a commitment to the needs of the entire school community.

Committees: Education, Facilities & Grounds, Beaver County Career & Technology Center Representative

Contact information: Click here for email

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, Facilities & Grounds, Personnel

Contact information: Click here for email