Thomas W. Ralston, former superintendent of Avonworth School District in Allegheny County, is a visiting assistant professor and director of the Forum for Western Pennsylvania School Superintendents at the University of Pittsburgh School of Education.
A native of Chester, West Virginia, Ralston has worked in K-12 public education for more than 30 years.
Before serving as Avonworth’s superintendent, he worked as a middle school principal at Avonworth and at the South Side Area School District in Beaver County and Oak Glen Middle School in West Virginia. He began his education career as a middle school science teacher at Hancock County Schools in West Virginia.
Ralston holds a Doctorate of Education from Youngstown State University, a Master of Arts from West Virginia University, and a Bachelor of Arts from West Liberty University. He earned his Superintendent’s Letter of Eligibility from Westminster College.
Ralston received the 2020 Superintendent of the Year Award from the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, the 2017 Distinguished Educator Award from the Tri-State Area School Study Council, and the 2010 Administrator of the Year Award from the Pennsylvania Association of Middle Level Education.