Dr. Jennifer Damico has spent the past fifteen years supporting and empowering students to discover and pursue their individual passions with knowledge, confidence, and caring. It is her desire that every student leaves high school not only with a diploma but with a viable plan and the skills necessary to create for oneself a successful future.
A proud product of the Woodland Hills School District, Damico began her educational journey at Indiana University of Pennsylvania earning a B.S. in English Education. She relocated to Charles County, Maryland, teaching 7th-grade ELA and then returned to Woodland Hills to teach 8th-grade reading. These experiences shaped her inclination for social justice and cultural responsiveness in all educational environments. Damico obtained her Master's Degree in Literary and Cultural Studies from Carnegie Mellon University and then took on the role of Educational Liaison at the Allegheny Department of Human Services. In this position, she designed and implemented programming to assist high school foster students in graduating and then pursuing post-secondary education.
In 2010, Damico returned once again to her alma mater as the College and Career Coordinator where she spent ten years creating, coordinating, and implementing college and career readiness curricula, programs, and activities. In this position, she worked closely with the guidance department, special education department, and school social workers on issues and projects related to students' post-secondary aspirations. Damico served as the athletic department's liaison to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and was able to have multiple WHSD courses NCAA approved as well as monitor student-athletes' NCAA eligibility. She also served as the ACT, SAT, and PSAT Test Supervisor and coordinated and supervised the administration of these college entrance exams. Damico cultivated tremendous working relationships with community groups, businesses, colleges, universities, trade schools, and school-based career and college access partners including the Consortium for Education, the Partner Up Program, NEED, the National Math and Science Initiative, and the Western Pennsylvania Council for HBCU Alumni that resulted in post-secondary matriculation or full-time employment for the graduating students of Woodland Hills High School.
Damico is a nationally and internationally published author and has written articles for the National Teacher Education Journal, Journal of the European Teacher Education Network, and Carnegie Mellon Magazine. She has also presented her work at the European Teacher Education Network Conference, the Pennsylvania Permanency Conference, Carnegie Mellon University's Publishing Genres in Academia Conference, and the Convention of the National Conference of Teachers of English. In addition, she has written and received grants from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Pittsburgh Foundation, The Consortium for Public Education, the Fifth Third Bank, and the Grable Foundation.
Dr. Damico believes voraciously in life-long learning and continuously seeks out experiences to grow both professionally and personally. Beyond her professional activities, she is a member of the Alliance for Academic Athletic Coaches and Educators (3ACE) and also a National Strength and Conditioning Association Certified Personal Trainer.
Most recently, Dr. Damico was appointed as the Director of Pupil Services at the Aliquippa School District and is very much excited to work with the students and families of the community.