Cheerleaders for Joey: Finding his way forward at Park Elementary

The first day of kindergarten is a seminal moment in a child’s life. It's the start of formal education and the opening of a whole new world of learning and discovery. 

For Joey Mihailoff and his family, the first day of kindergarten was the start of a different journey, one that led to hospital stays, surgery, and a challenging recovery. Through those difficult moments, Joey and his family found a team of educators in the Steel Valley School District and at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU) driven to ensure he is like any other third grader at Park Elementary. 

“Everybody around here isn’t just here for their job,” said Amanda Mihailoff, Joey’s mother. “They’re here because they’re a cheerleader for him, too.” 

The AIU has recently published its new Prospectus, a guidebook for school districts in Allegheny County to understand the comprehensive services offered by the AIU. It includes several stories highlighting those services, including one that spotlights the coordinated efforts between Steel Valley and the AIU to provide Joey with everything he needs to thrive.

Read more about Joey's team here: https://www.aiu3.net/administrators-and-educators/special-education/cheerleaders-for-joey/

Read the rest of the stories and the entire AIU Prospectus here: https://www.aiu3.net/administrators-and-educators/special-education/prospectus-2026/