District • Fallsington, Pa • August 2020
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Superintendent PENNSBURY SCHOOL DISTRICT • FALLSINGTON, PA • AUGUST 2020 provide additional curricular resources for students Across the DISTRICT and teachers. Welcome to the 2020-2021 academic year! As plans “This grant will support our efforts to provide take shape for an unprecedented fall launch, we a device for every student while freeing up other extend best wishes to all of our students, families, District funds to purchase health and safety faculty, staff, and community members for a healthy supplies, such as personal protective equipment, and successful school year. The administration hand sanitizer, and cleaning materials to protect our is deeply grateful for the earnest support of our school community,” said Dr. Aldridge. faculty members as we embark on this new academic journey together. Their dedication to the professional Ms. Bolger thanked the PCCD, as well. “The development offered during the summer months and generous support of the Commission will assist our the coming weeks is admirable and will certainly School District in preparing to support students for prove beneficial to our students. Most of all, we offer the coming school year.” our gratitude to the students and families who are true partners in this effort. Your willingness and NEW ADMINISTRATORS IN PLACE ability to sail ahead through these uncharted waters FOR 2020-2021 and work with us to achieve student success is commendable and well worth all the effort! As we begin this new academic year in Pennsbury, please join in welcoming four new administrators DISTRICT AWARDED SUBSTANTIAL and two acting administrators appointed to the GRANT FROM PCCD following positions: Thanks to the efforts of Milagro Aleman, Director of Transportation Dr. Elizabeth Aldridge, The Pennsbury Board of Director of Student School Directors appointed Ms. Services, and Afton Elementary teacher, Katie Milagro (“Millie”) Aleman Bolger, Pennsbury was awarded a $533,857 grant to become the District’s new from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Director of Transportation Delinquency (PCCD), which made the funding during the public School available “to support COVID-19-related health and Board meeting held on July safety needs.” These funds will be used to support 30, 2020. Ms. Aleman, whose distance learning for all Pennsbury students. appointment took effect on The grant will assist the District in purchasing MilAgro Aleman August 10th, is replacing additional Chromebooks so that every student can Mr. Charlie Williams, who is have access to a device during the period of remote retiring from Pennsbury after serving as Director learning and beyond. The funds will also be used to for 17 years. The Director of Transportation reports www.pennsburysd.org PENNSBURY SCHOOL DISTRICT • FALLSINGTON, PA • AUGUST 2020 1 District highlights report to Christopher Berdnik, the District’s Chief “The interview committee was immensely Financial Officer. impressed with Ms. Aleman’s humanistic qualities as well as her abundance of experience at all levels The Director of Transportation is responsible for: within her current transportation department,” said Superintendent Dr. William J. Gretzula. • overseeing the maintenance and operation of the “Specifically, Ms. Aleman spoke of the importance District-owned bus fleet, including conforming of having a customer-service orientation and to all state laws and regulations with regard to partnering closely with parents and students. This school transportation; was confirmed to be genuine about Millie, as she • maintaining safety standards in conformance has risen through the ranks. In the Philadelphia with state and insurance regulations; School District, she oversaw a large fleet of vehicles • recruiting, training, and supervising all and a comparable number of staff members similar transportation and bus garage personnel; to Pennsbury. With staff, she is known to have • developing and administering a transportation implemented various methods to motivate and program to meet all the requirements of the daily celebrate her colleagues. We look forward to adding instructional program, classroom extensions, and her leadership qualities and care for students to our extra-curricular activities; central level team.” • supervising the preparation of bus routes and bus schedules for all public and non-public schools Ms. Aleman will be joining Pennsbury after that District students attend; serving in a series of positions with expanding • preparing and administering the Transportation responsibilities for the Transportation Department of Department budget and authorizing payroll; the School District of Philadelphia (SDP) since 1995. Having launched her career there as a bus driver, • approving purchases in accordance with she moved on in 2001 to become the Transportation budgetary limitations; Garage Supervisor/Dispatcher. In 2006, Ms. Aleman • arranging for the completion of all insurance was named Acting Street Supervisor and Scheduling reports; Analyst, and then from 2009 to the present, she has • submitting all reports required by state served as the Transportation Garage Operations authorities, including reports for reimbursement; Manager for SDP. • ensuring prompt and appropriate responses to complaints and special inquiries from parents/ Ms. Aleman attended the Community College guardians and staff members; of Philadelphia. She holds a C.D.L. license and is • maintaining direct liaison with building-level a member of the National Association for Pupil and Central Office administrators with regard to Transportation. Ms. Aleman also participated in SDP transportation, service, and student discipline; leadership training and became a member of the • supervising the maintenance of all District-owned SDP Operations Executive Team. equipment and developing plans for preventive maintenance; Cherrissa Gibson, Ed.D., Director of Equity, • assisting in planning and making Diversity, and Education recommendations for the purchase of buses, vans, The Pennsbury Board of School Directors and other automotive equipment and supplies appointed Cherrissa Gibson, Ed.D. to be the in alignment with the District’s short-term and District’s new Director of Equity, Diversity, and long-term replacement plans; and Education during the public School Board meeting • performing other duties as may be assigned by held on July 16, 2020. Dr. Gibson, formerly an the Chief Financial Officer. Assistant Principal at Pennsbury High School 2 AUGUST 2020 • PENNSBURY SCHOOL DISTRICT • FALLSINGTON, PA www.pennsburysd.org District highlights report since 2013, reports to the Secondary, and Special Education in adopting Superintendent in this inclusive pedagogies and curricula that include newly-created position. the study of race, gender, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, religion, and their intersections; The Director of Equity, • design and provide professional development Diversity, and Education is that enhances cultural proficiencies for all staff, responsible for coordinating students, and members of the community; and guiding all efforts to define, • facilitate community-based educational understand, assess, foster, and opportunities including broad, stakeholder groups; cultivate equity among the cherrissA gibson, ed.D. • collaborate with the Human Resources Department District’s students, faculty, and to promote the recruitment, employment, and staff. This position serves to enhance educational retention of a workforce reflective of District programs to promote equity as an essential element demographics; of the mission of the Pennsbury School District. This position also further develops programs, services, • work with colleges and universities for the and initiatives designed to ensure the recruitment placement of student teachers in the Pennsbury and successful retention of faculty and staff. schools with a focus on diversity; • assist educators in creating culturally-support- “Dr. Gibson truly impressed the interview ive learning environments that ensure high team with her knowledge, experience, and the expectations for the academic achievement of all well- conceived entry plan that she presented,” students; said Superintendent Dr. William J. Gretzula. • promote extra-curricular activities that focus on “Stakeholders included School Directors, Central equity and diversity for students and encourage Office administrators, and school Principals. Their student attendance at such activities; comments afterwards included observations • support the District’s Title IX Coordinator for about Dr. Gibson’s clear passion for pursuing and student/parent inquiries; supporting equity and diversity in Pennsbury, her • work in collaboration with the Director of Student non-judgmental approachability, her depth and Services in relation to Act 44 and the completion of breadth of knowledge, and her grasp of the data the Civil Rights Report; behind this important work. Dr. Gibson has also led • participate in the Board Policy Committee in the delivery of professional development related to relation to the adoption and implementation of cultural proficiency here in the School District. As Board Policies that involve equity, diversity, and one committee member put it, Dr. Gibson takes a the prevention of discrimination and harassment scholarly approach to the work, yet is approachable.” of students and staff; and • support Federal program coordination (Title In her new role, Dr. Gibson’s primary duties and I, II, III, IV) to ensure equitable distribution of responsibilities are to: appropriate