New leadership for Catholic elementary schools in the East region

Former principal appointed as Regional Administrator

Bishop David Zubik has appointed Jonathan Cuniak as Regional Administrator for the Pittsburgh-East Regional Catholic Elementary Schools (PERCES), Inc. Cuniak has served as interim administrator since October 2021.  The appointment is effective May 2, 2022.

In his appointment letter to Cuniak, Bishop Zubik emphasized the mission of diocesan schools. “Our diocese has been blessed with a strong heritage of Catholic education. Our Catholic schools must continue the important evangelizing mission of forming and educating our young people – the future of our Church.”

The PERCES board has given its unanimous support to Cuniak.  In the recommendation letter to Bishop Zubik, board president Fr. Kris Stubna wrote, “Jon has a passion for our children and for Catholic education.  He is an effective administrator.  The PERCES board has complete confidence in his ability to lead us forward into the future.”

Cuniak graduated from Duquesne University in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science in Education, Secondary Education/Spanish.  In 2004, he received his Master of Science in Education, K-12 School Administration from Duquesne University. Since 2015, Cuniak served at principal of Saint Therese of Lisieux School (Munhall).  Before that, he was principal of Saint Pius X school (Reynoldsburg, Ohio), and principal of Saint Joan of Arc School (South Park).  Cuniak has nine years of teaching experience prior to his years as a school principal.

“I am grateful for the confidence placed in me by Bishop Zubik, Father Stubna and the PERCES board and diocesan leadership as I take on the role as regional administrator of PERCES.  I look forward to working together to strengthen Catholic education in the East Region and ultimately bring our students closer to Jesus,” Cuniak said.

Regionalization in the Diocese of Pittsburgh is to ensure families have access to Catholic schools that are academically excellent, spiritually vibrant, and financially sustainable. Through regionalization, responsibility for a school is treated as an educational ministry shared by every parish in the region. Individual schools have principals.  A regional administrator and business manager oversee operations and finances, reporting to a regional board made up of clergy and lay representatives of parishes in the region. To date, the Diocese of Pittsburgh has established north, east, and south regions. To learn more about how Diocese of Pittsburgh Catholic Schools are lighting the way, please visit https://diopitt.org/schools.