In a world where public education is often under scrutiny, Dr. Gennaro Piraino stands as a model of visionary leadership. As superintendent of Franklin Regional School District in Murrysville, Pennsylvania—and current president of the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators—Dr. Piraino has made it his mission to transform learning from a passive experience into a dynamic, purpose-driven journey. Named Pennsylvania’s Superintendent of the Year in 2019, he is spearheading initiatives that not only prepare students for careers but also equip them with the life skills needed in a complex, ever-changing world.
At the heart of his work is a commitment to making education more relevant for every student. “We’re really looking to make school more relevant for all kids,” Piraino explained on a recent episode of The Education Leadership Edge podcast. “For those kids that have an aptitude or an interest in a specific content that may have traditionally gone on to post-secondary education, we are looking to create advanced career academies.”
These academies—centered around healthcare, advanced technology, and business/legal studies—represent a major evolution in how Franklin Regional is approaching secondary education. In partnership with institutions like Carnegie Mellon University, St. Vincent College, and the local community college, these programs are designed to bridge the gap between high school and career or college. “Between now and 2027,” Piraino noted, “we hope to be launching these academies… and we’re doing it in partnership with our CTCs,” or Career and Technical Centers.
But this transformation doesn’t begin in high school. Piraino and his team have rooted their vision in what they call the “Five C’s”: creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and citizenship. These foundational skills are intentionally woven into lesson plans from the earliest grades, alongside core subjects like reading and math. “We’re integrating creativity… where students are engaged in problem-based learning and project-based learning,” he said. “If you walked around our schools and talked to students… they can generally tell you how they’re engaged, why it’s important, and which of the Five C’s it pertains to.”
One of the most compelling aspects of Piraino’s leadership is how deeply he values student agency and ethical responsibility—especially when it comes to emerging technologies like artificial intelligence. Rather than restrict students’ access to AI tools, he believes in empowering them to use such tools wisely. “Our focus isn’t necessarily eliminating their access to AI… it’s really teaching them how to use it responsibly, ethically, and effectively,” he emphasized. Through collaboration with Carnegie Mellon’s Supercomputing Center, Franklin Regional is training both teachers and students in the responsible use of technology, from coding to AI integration.
Dr. Piraino’s approach also challenges traditional notions of assessment. In an era still grappling with the effects of pandemic-related learning loss, he remains committed to individualized, rigorous education without over-reliance on standardized test prep. “We’ve actually eliminated test preparation for standardized tests within our system,” he said. “We’d much rather invest in providing our students with what they need for their future success so that they can reach their hopes and dreams.”
This student-centered mindset extends into mental health support as well. Piraino recognizes the challenges that come with growing up in a hyper-connected world and believes schools must do more than just address problems—they must build resilience. “Mental health is something that we’ve worked hard here to make sure that we have systems in place… but also on providing our students with resiliency skills to help them overcome adversity,” he said.
As the public conversation around education continues to evolve, Dr. Piraino is also keenly aware of the need for educators to share their success stories more effectively. “There are so many success stories in public education,” he said. “But I also think we’re in a situation where there’s so much focus on standardized tests… and both sides of the political spectrum are manipulating the data for their own purposes.” What’s needed, he argues, are accountability systems that truly reflect what students know and can do—systems that recognize the nuance between data and meaningful evidence of learning.
In Franklin Regional, education isn’t just about preparing for a test—it’s about preparing for life. Whether students dream of becoming doctors, engineers, musicians, or entrepreneurs, they’re supported by a system that sees them as individuals, not statistics.
“We’re working with all kids toward their individual goals,” Piraino said. “And we’re really focused on that individualization of education.”
It’s a powerful reminder that the future of education doesn’t hinge on one-size-fits-all solutions—it depends on leaders like Dr. Piraino, who are bold enough to ask not just what students are learning, but why it matters.
Listen to our entire conversation with Dr. Gennaro Piraino on this week’s episode of the Education Leadership Edge podcast, on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.