At its June 2, 2025 board meeting, the Penn-Trafford School Board recognized retiring staff. Each of these staff members had a direct and positive impact on the lives of many students while making a tremendous contribution to the Penn-Trafford community.
_______________________________________
Jim Bracco served as Penn-Trafford’s Director of Buildings and Grounds since 2012. Under his leadership, the maintenance department expanded in both size and capability, and he played a key role in introducing energy-saving initiatives and overseeing numerous renovation projects throughout the district. Jim’s work behind the scenes helped ensure that students and staff had a safe, functional, and welcoming environment every day. Reflecting on his time at Penn-Trafford, Jim shares that it’s simply a great place to work. His legacy will be seen in the buildings he helped improve and the strong team he helped build.
Patty Gaston joined the Penn-Trafford staff in 1997 as a custodian, motivated by a desire to get to know the school district her children would one day attend. Over the years, she became a familiar presence in every building across the district. Among the many changes she witnessed during her career, the COVID-19 pandemic brought the most dramatic shift, with enhanced cleaning protocols and heightened safety measures. While much of her work was done in the background, Patty most enjoyed the small moments—especially those when she could lend a hand or a kind word to a student. “After all,” she says, “that’s why we are here.”
Pat Konopka began his academic journey at Indiana University of Pennsylvania with aspirations of becoming a sports broadcaster. After earning a degree in Communications Media, his deep appreciation for nature and biology led him to pivot toward education. He returned to IUP to complete a degree in Education, specializing in Biology and General Science. Pat spent his entire teaching career at Penn-Trafford School District, primarily at the High School, with a brief semester at Penn Middle School. Though he doesn’t point to a single standout memory, Pat is continually moved by the emails he receives from former students who credit his Anatomy & Physiology class with shaping their academic and professional success.
Linda Loughner joined the staff of Penn-Trafford High School in 2013 as a job coach, excited to join a district known for its supportive environment and strong sense of community. Throughout her years at Penn-Trafford, Linda observed many changes, especially the growing role of technology in education, but the heart of her work remained the same: supporting students as they learned, struggled, and ultimately succeeded. Linda’s fondest memories will be the joy of watching nervous freshmen enter the school’s Coffee Shop, unsure of themselves, and guiding them as they grew into capable, confident members of the team.
Ron Loughner joined the Penn-Trafford maintenance department in 2004, and brought a deep connection to the community—having grown up in the very neighborhood he would go on to serve. Working close to home allowed him to spend more time with his family and even cross paths with his own children in the schools from time to time. In over two decades of service, Ron helped to implement many upgrades across the district, especially in the efficiency and performance of building systems. Among his favorite memories are the quick stops into the Coffee Shop for a cookie or cup of coffee, and the lunchtime antics in the maintenance department.
Nancy Marinclin was inspired early on by her parents, both of whom were educators. Following in their footsteps, she earned her teaching degree from Central Michigan University and began her journey in the classroom in 1977. She taught in Michigan and Ohio before moving to Pennsylvania, where she taught at Geibel High School in Connellsville. After stepping away from teaching for 25 years, she returned to the classroom in 2010, as an English/Language Arts teacher at Penn-Trafford High School. Nancy often reflected on how much she had missed teaching during her time away and how fulfilling it was to return to the classroom.
Jeff Newsom decided to become a teacher after taking an education class at WCCC. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Technology Education and a Master’s in Multimedia Technology from California University of Pennsylvania. After a teaching stint in Virginia, Jeff joined the Penn-Trafford High School staff in 1999. Over the years, Jeff witnessed the rapid evolution of technology and its impact on both education and students. His fondest memories are robotics competitions and watching his students compete in the Robotics World Championships.
Deborah Toocheck served in various part-time positions across the district for nearly 20 years before becoming the maintenance department’s full-time secretary in 2019. While working part-time, her schedule offered the flexibility that she needed to balance the needs of her home, her children, and her extended family. Debbie's final five years were marked by the unprecedented challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. She takes great pride in how her team pulled together during this time. Her fondest memories of Penn-Trafford are the relationships she built along the way.
