Mrs. Shirley Spiegel

Shirley A. Spiegel is a 1984 high school graduate of Commodore Perry School District.  She married Ronald E. Spiegel, owner of Avaira Signs, in 1985, and the couple resides in Hadley with their tuxedo cat, Blessings.   Shirley received her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education December of 1994 from Slippery Rock University.  While attending SRU she became a professional storyteller/presenter, performing live in costume for various schools, churches, and student organizations.  From 1995-1998 she worked as a Title One Elementary Aide for the Sharon City School District.  Shirley came to Mercer Area School District the following school year serving in a Title One Paraprofessional Eighth Grade Language Arts positon from 1998-1999.  Her first full-time position with Mercer Area was 1999-2000 as an Instructional Support Teacher Kindergarten –Sixth Grade in the Mercer Area Elementary School.  The following year she became a classroom teacher and remained in that role from 2000-2011.  She taught second grade for the first two years and then third grade for the remaining years until promoted to administration.  While teaching in the classroom, she received her Masters of Education degree from SRU, as well as her Principal Certification from a Cohort Program with Slippery Rock and Clarion Universities in 2003.  She accepted the administrative position of Assistant Elementary Principal and Coordinator of Special Education K-6 in 2011.  Shirley then received another promotion to Coordinator K-12, while remaining the Assistant Elementary Principal (2012-present).  In 2015, Shirley received her Superintendent’s Letter of Eligibility from Westminster College.  She has also served as the supervisor for AmeriCorps within the district.  Moreover, she continues to serve as the liaison between the Mercer Area School District and the Mercer Area Chamber of Commerce, (2011-present). Shirley is currently a Doctoral candidate in the Educational Leadership Program at Duquesne University (Cohort 2019) and will be Dr. Shirley A. Spiegel in January 2023. In her spare time, she enjoys working on her first book, reflecting on the topic of creating and sustaining a Vision for the future in one’s personal, business, and educational pursuits.  Shirley’s passion is servant leadership, and she finds great reward in giving back to a district (Mercer Area) that has given her so many wonderful opportunities. 

Quote from Mrs. Shirley Spiegel:  “I am greatly honored to serve the Mercer Area School District along with the Administrative Team and School Board on behalf of our terrific students, our fantastic teachers, and our supportive community.   I am very grateful for the opportunities I have had while serving the Mercer Area School District and look forward to many more years in service.”