Superintendent's Report 6 16 (Pdf)
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
PENNSBURY SCHOOL DISTRICT • FALLSINGTON, PA • JUNE 2016 recognition for our District and schools to upgrades Across the DISTRICT in many of our systems and technology.” Pennsbury students and programs have garnered SUPERINTENDENT numerous academic accolades during Dr. McHugh’s KEVIN J. McHUGH, Ed.D. TO RETIRE superintendency. These include: • National AP Honor Roll At the conclusion • PSSA and SAT scores trending upwards of his 20th year as an • All School Performance Profile scores exceed state administrator in the requirements Pennsbury School District and his • Multiple schools achieved the Governor’s Award 38th as an educator for Academic Excellence in Pennsylvania, • State and National District of Character recognition Superintendent Kevin • State and National Schools of Character J. McHugh, Ed.D. will recognition for all Pennsbury schools retire from his position • Newsweek Best Schools in U.S.A. list (PHS) as Pennsbury’s leader • PHS graduates accepted into prestigious, at the end of June. high-profile colleges Dr. McHugh will be completing his fifth In addition, academic changes and improvements Kevin J. Mchugh, ed.D. year as Superintendent. during the past several years include: “We have accomplished some amazing things • Implementation of full-day Kindergarten during my time in Pennsbury,” noted Dr. McHugh. • Improvements to course assessments K-12 “I am incredibly proud of our students, teachers, staff, • Increased STEM focus K-12 and administrators. Making the decision to leave this • State-mandated Educator Effectiveness profession, which I love so much, has been one of the implementation (teacher and principal) hardest things I have ever done. I so value the work and friendships that we have all enjoyed together.” Changes related to faculty and staff management include: “Dr. McHugh is an accomplished leader who has achieved national recognition during his • Contract settlements with professional and support distinguished career,” said Board President, Gary staff unions Sanderson. “We appreciate his skilled and inspiring • Many new members of executive leadership team managerial abilities. As Superintendent, Dr. • Improvements in hiring practices for all open McHugh has moved the District forward in many positions important ways, from the achievement of national www.pennsburysd.org PENNSBURY SCHOOL DISTRICT • FALLSINGTON, PA • JUNE 2016 1 superintenDent’s report • KEVIN J. McHUGH, Ed.D. Facilities-related upgrades include: Dr. McHugh earned his Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from Lehigh University in • Renovation of Eleanor Roosevelt Elementary 1999. His dissertation on principal leadership and School the motivation of groups earned the National Middle • Approvals for pending renovations of Pennwood Level Dissertation of the Year Award that same Middle School year. He has been an Adjunct Assistant Professor at • School closure and elementary redistricting Lehigh, having taught on campus and in Lugano, improved efficient use of space Switzerland, and has been a presenter at numerous • Technology upgrades across Finance, Payroll, state and national conferences. He holds a Master’s Human Resources, Student Information degree and a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education • Security improvements and practices at all District from Temple University. schools Before coming to Pennsbury, Dr. McHugh Community outreach and additional Board duties held teaching and administrative positions in the for Dr. McHugh have involved: Methacton, Lower Moreland Township, and Wall- ingford-Swarthmore school districts. • Town Hall meetings with residents • Public budget hearings, building renovation hearings, and a school closure hearing WELCOME WILLIAM J. GRETZULA, Ed.D. • Superintendent of Record at Bucks County AS NEW SUPERINTENDENT Technical High School At the public meeting held on May 12th, the • President of Bucks County Superintendent Pennsbury Board of School Directors voted Advisory Council at Bucks County Schools unanimously to appoint William J. Gretzula, Ed.D. Intermediate Unit #22 as Pennsbury’s next Superintendent. Dr. Gretzula will officially begin on July 1st following the June Dr. McHugh served as Assistant Superintendent 30th retirement of outgoing Superintendent, Dr. of Curriculum and Instruction for Pennsbury Kevin J. McHugh. from 2008-2011. During that time, Dr. McHugh was involved in all aspects of School District Currently serving as Director of Elementary operations, with primary responsibility for teaching and Gifted Education in the Upper Dublin and learning. As Chief Academic Officer, he supervised 16 school principals and 18 curriculum and departmental coordinators, and oversaw K-12 curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Dr. McHugh led initiatives to ensure that every student demonstrates proficiency in Mathematics and Reading in order to qualify for graduation. Having first joined Pennsbury in 1996 as Principal of Pennwood Middle School, Dr. McHugh was named “Pennsylvania Principal of the Year” in 2001. He went on to win the impressive distinction of “National Principal of the Year” in 2002. This recognition was awarded by the National School Board President Gary Sanderson (left) greeted new Association of Secondary School Principals. Superintendent, Dr. William J. Gretzula, on the evening of his appointment by the Board. 2 JUNE 2016 • PENNSBURY SCHOOL DISTRICT • FALLSINGTON, PA www.pennsburysd.org superintenDent’s report • KEVIN J. McHUGH, Ed.D. School District, Dr. Gretzula formerly served as Superintendent of the Bensalem School District, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT among numerous other central office and building ELLIOTT LEWIS, Ed.D. RETIRING administrator positions in the Bensalem, Neshaminy, and Quakertown school districts. Prior to beginning Elliott H. Lewis, Ed.D., his leadership journey, he began his career as a the Assistant Superintendent Special Education teacher for six years. of Administration for the Pennsbury School District, In an interview following the Board appointment has announced that he will on May 12th, Dr. Gretzula commented on his own be retiring from Pennsbury excitement about joining Pennsbury. He is proud at the end of June. Dr. Lewis to follow in the footsteps of Dr. McHugh and the has been serving in his rich legacy that he leaves behind with the students, present position since 2013. community, and staff. Specifically, Dr. Gretzula highlighted Pennsbury’s successes in academics, As Assistant in activities like the arts and music, in athletics, Superintendent, Dr. Lewis character education, and in community partnerships. has reported to the District elliott lewis, ed.D. He intends to bring a collaborative spirit and plans Superintendent, Dr. Kevin to maintain an open dialogue with the community. J. McHugh, while also serving as a member of As Dr. Gretzula stated, “It’s very apparent that this the Superintendent’s Cabinet. Dr. Lewis worked is a community that gets behind education and I collaboratively with Dr. Donna Dunar, the Assistant want to be a part of that. I also want to be part of a Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, system that strives for continuous improvement.” in leading, guiding, and directing building-level administrative and instructional staff to best meet Dr. Gretzula attended the District Art Show and the needs of each child in Pennsbury. the Senior Academic Awards ceremony in May, as well as the annual POPS! Concert on June 8th. He is The two Assistant Superintendents are also also scheduled to meet with various members of the responsible in tandem for evaluating the District’s District leadership team throughout the month of 15 principals. Further responsibility for the Assistant June to ensure a smooth transition. Superintendent of Administration entails significant input into the budget process, especially in the areas Dr. Gretzula holds a Doctorate degree in of staffing and scheduling, athletics, the community Educational Leadership from the University school, alternative education, summer programs, of Pennsylvania, a Master of Arts degree in and serving as liaison to the Bucks County Technical Educational Administration from Rider University, High School. and a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary and Special Education from LaSalle University. Development of the 2016-2019 Comprehensive Plan for the School District was led by Dr. Lewis, who guided a large committee of Pennsbury stakeholders to work in collaboration with JoAnn Perotti of the Bucks County Intermediate Unit #22. The outcome was the plan that will take effect on July 1, 2016. In addition, Dr. Lewis initiated the development of the future Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps unit at Pennsbury High School. This program is tentatively scheduled to www.pennsburysd.org PENNSBURY SCHOOL DISTRICT • FALLSINGTON, PA • JUNE 2016 3 superintenDent’s report • KEVIN J. McHUGH, Ed.D. begin in the 2017-2018 school year (see separate article on this page). Dr. Lewis came to Pennsbury from the New Hope-Solebury School District, where he served as Assistant to the Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Professional Development. Prior to joining New Hope-Solebury, Dr. Lewis served as Principal at Cheltenham High School in the Cheltenham Township School District for seven and a half years and as Principal of Bensalem High School in the Bensalem Township School District for four and a half years. Dr. Lewis began his career in State Representative Steve Santarsiero (left) led the PA House education as a Science teacher at Germantown High of Representatives in recognizing