Welcome Mr. Jeffrey Filia, Head of District Security

When Jeffrey Filia saw that the Steel Valley School District was searching for someone to lead the district’s security efforts, the veteran law enforcement officer jumped at the chance.

The East Allegheny alumnus has served the region for the past 30 years as a police officer, administrator with the Department of Corrections work release programs, and as a school police officer with the Gateway School District. The opportunity to lead a district security team and continue to serve in a community in the Mon Valley was exactly what he was looking for.

“I saw this position was advertised, and I was excited to see it posted, because it sort of aligns with my career goals and my interests,” Mr. Filia said. “It highlights a lot of my skills and experiences that I've developed over the years as a law enforcement officer and in the security field. I think I can apply the skills that I’ve learned to this new challenge. And, being from this area, I’m familiar with the Steel Valley School District.”

Mr. Filia was officially hired over the summer as the district’s Head of Security. He will work with district administration to lead the district’s safety and security team, coordinating efforts between district security guards and the school resource officers from the Homestead and Munhall Police Departments who serve in Steel Valley schools.

“I think that, together with my skill set and the great security team that we already have here, hopefully I can bring something to the table and make it a little bit better,” Mr. Filia said.

Mr. Filia said that his experience in community policing as well as with the Department of Corrections gives him the right blend of skills needed in the educational environment. There is still the focus on security and keeping an eye out for safety issues, but there is also an emphasis on relationships and preventative measures to deescalate situations or identify potential issues before they even occur. He will collaborate with administrators, staff, parents, and students to prioritize the safety of students and staff.

“You know that old saying that it takes a village? It does. It takes a village to raise children and keep the neighborhood safe,” he said. “I'm open minded. I'm always open for suggestions, especially when it comes to protecting our most valuable assets, which are our children.”

Mr. Filia will also work with the technology department and facilities team to implement the security plans for Steel Valley Elementary to ensure that all of that new building’s security components are operating appropriately when the school opens in August 2026.

In the meantime, he’s eager to continue to get to know students and staff and to serve the Steel Valley School District.

“I'm a family man first. I bring a lot of experience with me in law enforcement and security,” he said. “I very much look forward to this challenge. I'm very happy to be here at Steel Valley, and I'm looking forward to meeting some new faces.”