Dear MCA Learning Community,

I am truly honored to serve as your junior high principal. There is truly no place I would rather be. I am devoted to our local community and students and am looking forward to working with our staff towards making MCA the best it can be!

In addition to my role as an administrator, I am first and foremost a husband and a father. My beautiful wife Rachael have two children Jack and Josie.  Rachael is a fifth grade teacher at our elementary school and my family has lived and worked in our community for generations.  We are looking forward to having our children grow up here and Jack cannot wait to begin kindergarten with his friends at Mount Carmel Area this year!

Prior to joining our administrative team, I spent thirteen years as an educator, including three as a secondary social studies teacher at Mount Carmel Area. Beginning my administrative career during the COVID crisis definitely had its challenges, but I gained a lot of valuable experience and am looking forward to getting all of our students back in the classroom this year.  

As a current and lifelong resident of the Mount Carmel Area, I understand both the strengths and challenges of our district. While our community continuously changes, my goals will remain the same: to develop strong, self-sufficient young men and women, and prepare students to accomplish their future goals.

To our students and families:  I will always work as hard as I can for our school district, community, and families.  To our staff: My door is always open. I value your input, and appreciate you always making our students your main priority.

To our community: GO BIG RED!

Sincerely,

John Darrah