Our Faculty and Staff are committed to the City High Mission.

Since 2002, City Charter High School or City High has been ranked among the best schools in Pittsburgh. With its low student/teacher ratio and focus on technology as a tool for learning, graduates leave academically, technologically, personally and socially prepared to succeed in the modern world – whether our students choose college, skills training, or employment. 

At City High, we support an academic culture of professionalism that prepares students to succeed in their post high-school paths to college, a job, an  apprenticeship, a specialized skill or trade school. This requires progressive teachers and a more personalized approach. 

Meet Our Administrators

Our CEO and Principal

Dara Ware Allen Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer/Principal & Title IX Officer
dwallen@cityhigh.org 

Dr. Dara Ware Allen is the CEO and Principal of City Charter High School. In this role, she leads a team of exceptional educators responsible for achieving the school’s mission to graduate students who are academically, technologically, personally and socially prepared to succeed in post-secondary education, training and/or employment.  Recognized locally and nationally for its innovative model, relationships play a huge role in the school’s design and success, contributing to the school’s 94% graduation rate.  Ultimately, as the chief executive and administrative officer, Dara works to assure creative and strategic leadership consistent with the mission, values, and culture of the school.   During Dara’s tenure, City Charter High School has been recognized among the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s “Top Workplaces” awardees three times in the past six years.

Dr. Allen graduated from Spelman College before earning a Master’s in Education (teaching) from Duquesne University and a Ph.D. in Workforce Education and Development from Penn State University. Her career spans nearly 25 years, including her immediate past role as Assistant Superintendent of Student Support Services at Pittsburgh Public Schools. In that role, she served on executive level committees and teams, contributing to District-wide decisions including student and school support, equity, recruitment and enrollment, crisis response, allocation of resources, and operations, among other responsibilities. Prior to that, she served as the Chief Operating Officer and Program Director at Leadership Pittsburgh Inc., Executive Director of YouthWorks Inc., and Director of a federal TRIO college access program, the Educational Opportunity Centers of Southwestern Pennsylvania at Penn State University.  Dara also has distinguished community service experience including tenures on the Pittsburgh Public School Board, Allegheny County’s Jail Oversight Board, Partner 4 Work’s Youth Policy Council, A+ Schools Board, and the Bayer Center for Non-Profit Management Advisory Council.  She currently serves on the Remake Learning Advisory Council, Health Careers Futures Advisory Board of the Jewish Healthcare Foundation, and the Board of Directors for the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership and YouthPlaces.  Dr. Allen is a proud alum of Leadership Pittsburgh and founding member of the Urban League Young Professionals of Pittsburgh.  She was also named a “40 Under 40” award winner in 2002 by Pittsburgh Magazine and recognized as a “Women of Excellence” by the New Pittsburgh Courier in 2012.

Dr. Allen considers it an honor to serve at the helm of City High and is committed to contributing to City High’s remarkable legacy of growing students as learners and equipping them for successful futures after high school. 

Assistant Principals

Angela Welch
Chief Academic Officer & 2025 Administrator
welch@cityhigh.org 

Angela Welch is an original City High faculty member and the school’s first special education teacher, growing  the learning support program from the ground up into what it is today. She became a grade-level  principal in 2009, and Education Manager in 2014.  As Education Manager she oversees curriculum, special education, the ESL program and the promotion process for staff. After the school moved buildings, she helped create the school nutrition program that provides students with healthy and delicious from-scratch meals, soups and salads. Ms. Welch has a B.S in Elementary and Special Education from Clarion University and a Masters of Education in Administration and Policy Studies from the University of Pittsburgh. In 2019, she was nominated for her work as an outstanding leader in Pittsburgh's education community by The Incline. She was also a recipient of the Who's Next series that highlighted stellar under-40 leaders who are making a difference in their fields and community. She is grateful for City High's co-founders who believed in her as a young leader to eventually become a long-term home-grown leader of City High. While she began her educational career focused on elementary students, now she can’t imagine working with anyone but young adults in high school, even though she still gets called on to occasionally help zip up a coat or wipe a runny nose!

Alesha Platt 
Assistant Principal
Class of 2028
platt@cityhigh.org 

Alesha Platt brings a diverse background in education to City High that not only includes teaching, but the fostering of success beyond high school. Ms. Platt, as many of you know her, has already been an active part of our students’ lives at City Charter High School for over nine years as one of our transition managers, preparing our students to succeed in their post-high school endeavors. Ms. Platt is a graduate from Penn State University with a BA in History. Her education also includes an MA in Curriculum and Instruction from Point Park University, and an additional PA Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction Certification for K-12. Ms. Platt’s career spans beyond teaching at Wilkinsburg School District, and coordination as an Education Coordinator at YouthPlaces, but also includes intensive case management of student participants as a GED Instructor at the Hill House Association. 

Bret Powner
Assistant Principal
Class of 2027
Powner@cityhigh.org

Bret Powner began his City High career as the mathematics electives teacher before moving into administration.  After 11 years of experience out-of-state teaching a wide variety of math courses in Wood County, WV and serving as an adjunct professor for Ohio Valley University, Powner returned to Pittsburgh and joined City High.  He received his BS in Mathematics and MS in Curriculum and Instruction from Saint Vincent College.  He continued his studies at Salem University (WV) to earn his principal credentials.  

Tiana DeLaRosa
Principal on Special Assignment & 2026 Administrator
delarosa@cityhigh.org 

Tiana DeLaRosa has inspired students at City Charter High School as both a teacher and an administrator. Ms. DeLaRosa has a BS in Finance from the University of Pittsburgh and an MS from Robert Morris University in Business Administration. She began her City High career as a Business teacher, teaching classes such as Financial Literacy and Small Business, and supporting our Robotics team.  After receiving her Principal Certification from California University, she moved into Administration in 2013. Ms. DeLaRosa's guiding educational principle is to hold all students to high expectations while providing the support each individual student needs to meet those expectations. She likes to call it "tough love"!
 

Steven Heller
Assistant Principal
Class of 2026
heller@cityhigh.org 

Mr. Steven Heller comes to City High with a wide range of educational experiences, having worked in urban and suburban school districts in and around New York City as well as in Charleston, South Carolina.  Mr. Heller holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Binghamton University and a Master’s Degree in Secondary Science Education from Adelphi University.  After completing a second Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and earning his administrative certification, Mr. Heller left the classroom after 10 years and moved into an administrative role, working as an instructional coach and a program coordinator.  Mr. Heller is currently pursuing his doctoral degree from the University of Miami in Applied Learning Sciences. Mr. Heller enjoys spending time exploring the city with his wife, two young children, and two dogs. He is excited to join the team at City High and looks forward to helping our students achieve their highest potential.
 

Jim Young
Assistant Principal
Class of 2025
young@cityhigh.org 

Jim Young brings over a decade of diverse school leadership experience to City High. Initially starting as a middle school English teacher, Mr. Young has dedicated most of his career to serving high school students and their families. His extensive background spans private, charter, and public schools, with roles including dean, assistant principal, and building principal.  Before transitioning to education, Mr. Young built a successful career in supply chain management in Corporate America. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Penn State and master’s degrees in education from Marquette University and Alverno College.  Originally from the South Hills, Mr. Young has lived in Washington, DC, Atlanta, Arkansas, and has spent the last 14 years in Milwaukee. He recently moved back to Pittsburgh and is happy to be home.  He is married with two young children and enjoys attending sporting events and concerts, exploring new restaurants, traveling, and customizing sneakers in his spare time.

 

Our Student Support Staff

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Food Service Staff

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Building Maintenance Staff