At Moon, One Principal Leaves, Another Soon Takes Over

It took 11 long years to build it, and now he's leaving it behind. 

"At times it really was an uphill battle," said Michael Hauser, sitting in his sun-filled office, which he'll have to give up  in June. 

Hauser, Moon Area High School's senior principal, will end his 18-year tenure with the district at the end of the school year. He often served as an advocate for the construction of the district's new $76 million high school. By his own estimation, the process to bring the to fruition spanned more than a decade. 

"It took a lot of collaboration," Hauser said of the new high school. "But we're really fortunate. This is something we can all be proud of."

So it seemed fitting for the Aliquippa native to officially announce his retirement just as the district prepared to open the state-of-the-art facility earlier this year. In recent weeks, he said, he's received an outpouring of farewells from students, staff and alumni.

"It truly is bittersweet," he said. "But I feel very proud and really pleased. There's a saying from Shakespeare, 'Parting is such sweet sorrow.' That's fitting."

In his place next fall will be i, a Mercer County resident and former Blackhawk High School assistant principal who began work in Moon on April 4.

The two principals are managing the high school together in the months before Hauser's departure. That way, Balaski can learn the ropes while Hauser transitions out of the role he's held for 11 years.

"It's unusual that you get to train with the person who you're going to replace," Balaski said. "It could be intimidating but Mike hasn't made it that way. I think Mike and I have the same temperament."

 Finding a Home

Balaski's been Moon's co-principal for less than a month, but he said he's already beginning to break the ice with the student body. In the fall, he'll take over as the district's sole senior principal.

"You can tell a lot about kids by the way they behave in the cafeteria," Balaski said. "You can tell their mannerisms, what they eat. Their behavior. How they conduct themselves. A lot of the kids have walked up to me in the hall and just introduced themselves."

The Thiel College alumnus, who previously  taught in the Reynolds, Greenville and Seneca Valley school districts, has been making the hourlong commute from his Mercer home to Moon until he finds a house near the township.

He said Moon's scholastic reputation makes the lengthy drive worthwhile.

"Well, the first part is, no one goes into this and wants to only be an assistant principal," Balaski said of leaving his position at Blackhawk High School. "The second is, this is a sound place. No one takes over as principal for a couple years. You want to find a place where you can be at home."

When Hauser joined the district as a teacher 18 years ago, he brought a diverse resume with him.

Prior to his work in education, Hauser worked as a human resources professional, owned an Italian restaurant and sold insurance for State Farm. It was a mix of experience that he said would ultimately benefit him when he returned to work as a teacher, first in the Aliquippa and Rochester districts, then in Moon. 

"I would say it gives you a business perspective," he said. "It gave me a sense of what kind of skills and knowledge students would need to gain here."

A New Challenge

Hauser said Balaski's role as principal will be more complicated than his was a decade ago.

"The education process has become more transparent, and you have a more informed clientele," Hauser said. "I would give him the same advice that the principal before me told me. You need to be fully aware of what happens here and you need to take time to make the right decisions for the community. Strive for excellence.  And you can't always please everyone."

Balaski said the district's move into its new high school has eased his transition as principal.

"I think students have been expecting change," he said. "And now, I get to take time and get to know the school and leave my own stamp on things."

In his retirement, Hauser has plans to work on a program focused on teaching kids skills for the business world, develop a concussion-prevention program for young athletes, and "work with several businesses."

He said he's confident that he's left a positive impact on the district, but, "there's always room for improvement."

"There's no part of this that's really easy," he said. “But that's just a principal's life."