West Middlesex principal leaving for superintendent job

WEST MIDDLESEX - In what she called a "bittersweet" transition, West Middlesex Jr. Sr. High School Principal Tessa Simmons will be leaving the school district this summer.

The West Middlesex school board accepted Simmons' resignation during the board's monthly meeting June 22.

Her resignation takes effect June 30, according to school documents. Superintendent Raymond Omer said school officials expect to hire someone to the principal position at the school board's next meeting on July 27.

Simmons said she will be taking the position of superintendent at Valley Grove School District in Venango County, where she previously served as an elementary assistant principal.

"I'm excited for this new opportunity," Simmons said.

Simmons originally taught at the West Middlesex Area School District from 2009 to 2019, then was hired at Valley Grove.

Simmons was later hired as principal of the West Middlesex Jr. Sr. High School in September 2021.

At the time Simmons was hired as the high school principal, schools nationwide were still dealing with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I think I'm leaving the district in a positive direction," Simmons said.

"It's weird to think that when I was hired, we were all still wearing masks and social distancing at sporting events."

Simmons lives in West Middlesex with her husband Jeffrey, who serves on the West Middlesex school board, and their three children, Reagan, Hadley and Palmer.

That will not change after she takes this new position at Valley Grove School District, Simmons said.

"We're still living in the area, so you're still going to see us in the community," Simmons said.

West Middlesex board President Dr. Andrew Erb said the board members accepted Simmons' resignation "very reluctantly" and congratulated Simmons on her new position.

West Middlesex Jr. Sr. High School Assistant Principal Aaron Pernesky said Simmons, or "Tess" as she was also known, would be missed at the school district.

Pernesky also credited Simmons with applying her motherly talents and energy toward the many students and staff at the district.

"She really took the school in a positive direction during her time here," Pernesky said of Simmons.

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