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Just an observation:

It seems to be a "western PA" thing to have school systems that are "inbred" and "incestuous." This takes place at school districts like Forest Hills (just one example of many, I'm not knocking just FH, but it seems to be a prime example, based on the last post).

What I mean by saying the school systems are inbred or incestuous is that many seem to hire their own and never even consider someone from outside of the system. Although HIGHLY QUALIFIED (and I stress that term) insiders definitely deserve full consideration for vacancies, I think that many districts miss the boat by not even considering outsiders for teaching/coaching positions, and thus miss out on fresh, diverse ideas and experiences that a well qualified, bright outsider with some diverse experiences may bring to enrich a school district.

Indeed, I have seen familiarity breed complacency and downright mediocrity in too many cases. Sometimes folks who do not have a broader perspective and know nothing more than "Forest Hills" from the womb to the grave have no clue about just what excellence might look like outside of Sidman...and contrary to popular belief at The Ranger, there is a world out there that exists that isn't green and gold.

On an aside, I would LOVE to examine the hiring processes and criteria in some school districts...That'd make a great PhD dissertation topic, wouldn't it?

To a point you are right WT...but not completely.

You can't compare Pittsburgh Schools to Johnstown area schools. In Pittsburgh there are constantly people moving in and out of the school district because of the job market, housing, location, and other reasons.

The Johnstown area isn't exactly drawing people in from all over the East Coast. 9 outta 10 people you talk to on the streets where born and raised in J-town, and settled down here. Why would a coach come to Johntown and start out at 4,000 when he could coach in Pittsburgh and make 12,000, or down east and make 20,000?

So if new people aren't coming in, why wouldn't you want the best around that is here?

Heck an outsider move in this area is considered to be Ernrie Fetzer moving from Westmont, to Somerset, to Penn Cambria.

In Pittsburgh you might get a back up QB from Notre Dame who landed a CEO job Downtown somewhere and decided to coach at Penn Hills.

I doubt that kid is going to want to come coach in Sidman, no mater how great the Green and Gold are.

aliquippa's entire football team last season. had either their mother or father was a graduate of aliquippa.you mean like that? but just to prove you right, i'm leaving everett and it's storied tradions on the sports field and moving to pittsburgh with my family.some school is going to inherit three (future) excellent students and talented athletes (hopefully) and a really dashing father.

I'm not gonna name names and what not and I should have never brought anything up, because I know those people and I am friends with them and many many others and have never had one problem with them. BUT... as in ANY school district I have ever seen, there are people who have been on substitute teaching lists for YEARS and never given jobs at that school. Is that right? It's obviously not fair, and there's really no way anyone can argue it. Many times, coaches have clout and can pull strings in the community to get people opportunities they may not have the resume for at that point in their life. That's all I'm saying.

The word for that is N-E-P-O-T-I-S-M. Happens all over the world, all walks of life. It's not what you know, it's who you.......know.

Just because someone is a substitute teacher for a long time doesn't mean they deserve a job. There are other reasons to get hired other than being a sub. Subbing just gives you experience, that's it. Which experience is good heading into any job, but is doesn't mean you are a shoe in.