When Jeffrey Soles started his job as principal of Steel Valley Senior High School this week, the school got a strong proponent of classroom technology and an expert on accreditation, district officials said.

"Jeff was instrumental in getting laptops into the classrooms at his last high school," said Steel Valley School District Superintendent Dr. William Kinavey. "And he will be a strong asset in our plans to apply for Middle States accreditation in the fall. He's already been through that process."

Accreditation by the The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools is a form of peer review which guarantees the quality of education, and, Dr. Kinavey said, helps build community support.

Mr. Soles current boss, Kiski Area High School Principal Bill McClarnon said his school's success in obtaining a $188,000 grant last year was mostly Mr. Soles' work. The money, from the Pennsylvania Department of Education's Classrooms of the Future program, paid for laptops, interactive white boards and other equipment for seven classrooms.

"We had a proposal in two years ago that didn't go through, and when Jeff came aboard from Deer Lakes, he brought his experience over and rewrote the proposal with his own insight," said Mr. McClarnon.

"Everything from getting the funding to the installation and training, we really referred to it as Jeff's program."

While at Kiski, Mr. Soles also revamped the math curriculum and increased attendance from 86 percent to 92 percent.

Before joining Kiski in 2007, Mr. Soles, 38, was assistant principal for three years at Deer Lakes School District. He lives in Jeannette with his wife, Lisa, and three children. He graduated in 1994 from California University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Technology Education.

The motion to hire Mr. Soles at a salary of $92,000 was passed unanimously June 23 by the school board. He succeeds Leo K. Schlanger, whose salary was $95, 500.

"Jeff is very highly regarded, and we are sure going to miss him," said Gary Haag, president of Kiski school board.

"It's a good career move for him, but his new school will benefit the most."