On November 29, 1976, Virgil Palumbo began his career at Windber Area School District as the Assistant High School Principal. School was not in session that day as it was the end of the Thanksgiving Break and the first day of buck season. He will always remember the silence of the empty building as he walked through the same halls that he had walked through as a student. And the rest, as they say, is history!
Mr. Palumbo graduated from Windber Area High School in 1965 along with his high school sweetheart and future-wife, Lorraine Dalla Valle. He attended Fredrick College in Virginia on a Football Scholarship and transferred to Mansfield College where he earned his Bachelors of Arts in Education in 1969. He was a teacher and coach at Wellsboro High School, Quigley Catholic High School, and Johnstown High School. He completed his Masters of Education at Frostburg University in 1976.
When he returned to his Windber roots he held several different positions in our district including Assistant High School Principal, Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent, 9th & 10th Grade Principal, before being named High School Principal in 1981, retiring in 2006. He also was Acting Superintendent in the last months of his career at our district.
During his tenure as High School Principal, his leadership was exemplary. He led by example and those who worked with him knew his love of God, his family, and our school community. Students and staff not only respected him as a leader but also as someone they could come to if they needed help.
This man has touched the lives of so many students throughout the years. He has helped countless students to achieve their goals and dreams. His top priority was to make sure that Windber Area School District provided a top quality education for its students and help to build the foundation that they would need to become successful.
Virgil Palumbo’s name is synonymous with Windber Pride. He was born a Rambler, grew up as a Rambler, worked as a Rambler, and will forever be a Rambler! Lorraine & Virgil instilled Windber Pride in their children, Virg, Chris, and Sarah, from the day they were born. His family shared his love of Windber and will also be Ramblers at heart, no matter where they may be. This man’s history is a rich history filled with pride and accomplishment.
We dedicate the Virgil R. Palumbo Plaza to him and also to his family for the many years of dedication to Windber Area School District.
Windber Pride…Experience It!
Windber Pride…Experience It!