Superintendent PENNSBURY SCHOOL DISTRICT • FALLSINGTON, PA • JUNE 2021 • Highest average SAT & ACT scores since tracking Across the DISTRICT began • Increased student participation in AP courses and tests, leading to National AP Honor Roll DR. WILLIAM J. GRETZULA TO RETIRE • School performance scores exceed state requirements At the conclusion • Student achievements exceed state averages of his fifth year as an administrator in the • State and National District of Character Pennsbury School recognition District and his 29th as an • State and National Schools of Character educator in Pennsylvania recognition and New Jersey, • Newsweek Best Schools in U.S.A. list (PHS) Superintendent William • PHS graduates accepted into prestigious, J. Gretzula, Ed.D. will high-profile colleges retire from his position as • Enhanced career and college readiness by Pennsbury’s leader at the implementing Section 339 plans for grades K-12 end of June. WilliAm J. GretzulA, ed.D. In addition, academic changes and improvements “It has been my distinct honor to serve the during the past several years include: Pennsbury School District community and join • Implemented Air Force JROTC Program with my colleagues in leading through amazing periods of innovation, some strategically-planned, • Launched largest K-12 Chromebook 1:1 initiative while others were forced upon us by external in the state circumstances beyond our control,” said Dr. • Designed and implemented SPARK as new fifth Gretzula. “In all instances, the Pennsbury staff special in elementary division and students rose to the occasion! That Pennsbury • Increased STEM focus K-12 by including pride is what I will miss most, and it is the central restructuring of middle school mathematics theme to all the wonderful memories I will treasure. program, modernizing Applied Engineering / Onward and upward!” Dr. Gretzula plans to Technology Education program, and creating continue working in the field of education in the multiple STEM pathways at the high school. non-public sector in Pennsylvania or in the state of • Expanded continuum of supports for students New Jersey, where he began his teaching career. with special needs K-12 • Shifted successfully to fully-remote virtual Pennsbury students and programs have garnered instruction for all grades during pandemic numerous academic accolades during Dr. Gretzula’s term as Superintendent. These include: Changes related to faculty and staff management include: www.pennsburysd.org PENNSBURY SCHOOL DISTRICT • FALLSINGTON, PA • JUNE 2021 1 District hiGhliGhts report • Contract settlements for administrative, School District, among numerous other central professional, and support staff unions office and building administrator positions in the • Appointments of several executive leadership Bensalem, Neshaminy, and Quakertown school team members, including the establishment of districts. Prior to beginning his leadership journey, new departments for Elementary Education, he began his career as a Special Education teacher Secondary Education, and Equity, Diversity, & for six years. Education • Improvements in hiring practices for all open Dr. Gretzula holds a Doctorate degree in positions, including efforts to diversify the work Educational Leadership from the University force of Pennsylvania, a Master of Arts degree in Educational Administration from Rider University, • Introduction of a virtual HR recruitment fair and a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary and Special • A comprehensive study to initiate new technology Education from LaSalle University. Most recently, he upgrades across Finance, Payroll, Human obtained National Superintendent Certification from Resources, and Student Information AASA, the School Superintendents’ Association. Facilities-related upgrades include: WELCOME DR. THOMAS SMITH • Renovation of Pennwood Middle School • Approvals for pending renovations of Charles AS NEW SUPERINTENDENT Boehm Middle School In a unanimous vote at the public Pennsbury School • Arrangement with NorthPoint Development to Board meeting held on April 15, 2021, the Board benefit School District, including a Community named Dr. Thomas Smith as the new Superintendent Benefit Agreement netting $500K annually for 15 of Schools, effective August 1st. The appointment years plus warehouse space followed a public forum held in Keller Hall at • Security improvements and practices at all District PHS West where Dr. Smith was introduced to the schools Pennsbury community by the Board and Dr. Mark Hoffman, Executive Director of the Bucks County Community outreach and additional Board duties Intermediate Unit. The in-person Meet & Greet event for Dr. Gretzula have involved: was also live streamed and may be viewed here. • Continuation of the Pennsbury-LYFT Character Award to recognize Pennsbury students at monthly School Board meetings • Attendance at community events • Partnered with Pennsbury Education Foundation, Pennsbury Arts Foundation, Pennsbury Scholarship Foundation, and supported the work of the Pennsbury Partners Program • Increased transparency of regular Board/ Administrative business with implementation of BoardDocs technology platform Prior to joining Pennsbury in 2016, Dr. Gretzula served as Director of Elementary and Gifted Dr. Thomas Smith (right), shown here with School Board Education in the Upper Dublin School District. He President, Christine Toy-Dragoni, will begin as the new formerly served as Superintendent of the Bensalem Pennsbury Superintendent of Schools in August. 2 JUNE 2021 • PENNSBURY SCHOOL DISTRICT • FALLSINGTON, PA www.pennsburysd.org District hiGhliGhts report Dr. Smith is currently Superintendent of the served as Assistant Principal of Pennwood Middle Hopewell Valley Regional School District, where School before that. Dr. Ricci previously taught Social he has served since 2009. He has also served as the Studies at Pennsbury High School. President of the Mercer County Administrators Association for the past eight years. In 2018, he was Dr. Ricci holds a certificate in Educational named Mercer County Superintendent of the Year. Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania and In a career spanning over 25 years, Dr. Smith has earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership at worked as a teacher, coach, supervisor, director, Gwynedd Mercy University. She also has a Master of assistant superintendent, and superintendent in Science degree in Teaching from The College of New both small and large districts in New Jersey. In Jersey, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics recent years, he also taught graduate-level courses from Boston College. in education and was part of a delegation of U.S. educators who traveled to China as part of a cultural GIANT “FEEDING SCHOOL KIDS” exchange to broaden knowledge of culture and education practices. CAMPAIGN NETS $18,000+ FOR PENNSBURY Dr. Smith holds two Master’s degrees in Education from The College of New Jersey and a Doctorate For nearly 100 years, the GIANT Company in Educational Leadership from Seton Hall has been actively involved in the community to University. Dr. Smith’s recent work has focused on connect families for a better future. Through their social-emotional learning, equity, and providing “Feeding School Kids” initiative, GIANT and their mental health programs for K-12 students. His other customers raised more than $3.3 million to address efforts include improving the cultural competency the issue of childhood hunger throughout local of staff and students, identifying and eliminating public school districts in the communities they systemic barriers to upper-level classes, and serve. From January 4th through February 28th, reviewing and revising homework and grading customers at GIANT, MARTIN’s, and GIANT practices. Dr. Smith lives with his wife and three Heirloom Market stores were invited to round up children in Allentown, NJ. their grocery purchases to the nearest dollar or convert their CHOICE points into a donation for DR. THERESA RICCI TO SERVE AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT During their public meeting of May 20th, the School Board appointed Dr. Theresa Ricci, currently the Director of Secondary Education, to serve as the Interim Superintendent for the month of July after Dr. Gretzula departs the District up until the arrival of Dr. Smith. theresA ricci, ed.D. Dr. Ricci has served in her Accepting a generous check from The GIANT Company’s representative, Rob Hough (center) are Dr. Theresa Ricci (left), current capacity since 2018. She was the Principal of Director of Secondary Education, and Christopher Berdnik, Charles Boehm Middle School from 2007-2018, and Chief Financial Officer. www.pennsburysd.org PENNSBURY SCHOOL DISTRICT • FALLSINGTON, PA • JUNE 2021 3 District hiGhliGhts report local public school food programs. The GIANT Brianna Balbo, Grade 9 Company matched the first $1.5 million donated Pennsbury High School by customers. Pencil Still Life Art teacher: Abigail Cramer Recently, Rob Hough, Assistant Store Manager at GIANT in Fairless Hills, stopped in at the District Delaney Gardner, Grade 11 Administration Building to represent the GIANT Pennsbury High School Company and to present a check in the amount Low Relief Cardboard Sculpture of $18,798.44 to support the food program in Art teacher: Danyelle Lala Pennsbury. These funds will be used to wipe out delinquent accounts for economically-disadvan- Jane Bove, Grade 8 taged families and help support the food pantries William Penn Middle School in several Pennsbury secondary schools. We Precisionism/Charles Demuth extend our