Copied from District website- New Superintendent

District Welcomes New Superintendent - Thomas Washington
Tuesday, December 21 2010


At the December 6th Board meeting, Thomas K. Washington of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was approved as the District's new superintendent. He is currently Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources in the Bethlehem Area School District. In this capacity, he has dealt with labor relations issues, principal super­vision, child accounting, strategic planning, postgraduate programs, student teachers, human relations, and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission/ Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission matters. In addition, he co-chaired the superintendent's committee on diversity.



While serving as Director of Student Services, Mr. Washington dealt with a wide variety of student-related issues in the district, including guidance, student code of conduct, charter schools, homeschooling, student assistance program, and early childhood/child care. He also served as principal for a K-5 elementary building, implementing several reading programs, and spent time in Bethlehem as an elementary school teacher. In addition, he was an elementary school principal in the Allentown School District, assistant elementary school principal in the Pocono Mountain School District, and an elementary school teacher in the Albany City School District.

Initiatives implemented under Mr. Washington during his tenures include a school­wide breakfast program, K-12 code of conduct, K-8 character education program, and curriculum development. He has served an integral role in the creation of academic programs for students as well as designing professional learning com­muni­ties for teachers. In addition, his experience has utilized collaboration with not only parents, students, and teachers, but the general community as well. The leadership skills he has gained as he has progressed through the school system will play an important part in his role as superintendent of the District.

Mr. Washington said his main question and focus upon taking up the reins at Penn Hills will be "how are the children doing"? He plans to continue to strengthen the commitment to excellence in education and improved opportunities for all with a focus on student learning, which has been the District's mission. Helping students reach their potential and the challenges of meeting the needs of the students at Penn Hills was what attracted him to the District. Additionally, he said, the diversity of the District was a characteristic that drew him to the leadership position. He sees the buildings themselves as places of realized potential. "A place of realized potential offers students the opportunity to learn and grow," he explained, adding, "It is a place that offers challenging work, a place that heals children with trust, caring, and forgiveness. It is a place that forgives the mistakes of growing up." A place of realized potential, he went on to say, "Opens itself to change and keeps an open mind to the fact that potential is a mystery." In this place, the focus remains on the potential of the students. Helping them reach that potential, he explained, requires three simple steps: relationships, meeting their needs at their level, and teaching in interesting and practical ways. This also entails a system that combines high expectations with high supports, he said.

The biggest challenges Mr. Washington sees with this new position are ensuring that all students are equipped with the skills they need for the 21st century and balancing the needs of the students, teachers, and community during these difficult financial times.

When asked what he would like to be looking back on as his accomplishments a year from now, Mr. Washington's response was:

•Formation of relationships of trust and honesty with the PHSD school community, including students, teachers, administrators, support personnel, central office, Board members, and the community.
•Improved student achievement.
•Successful oversight of the construction projects.

Mr. Washington's background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Education from the State University of New York and a Master of Education from Kutztown University. His principal certificate was obtained from Penn State University, with his letter of eligibility for the superintendency from Lehigh University. He is currently pursuing his doctorate at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

On a more personal note, the new superintendent is a very devoted Big East basketball fan. He enjoys reading leadership books on his iPad. John Maxwell is his favorite author, he said, and his principles of leadership are easy to use and implement on a personal and professional level. He calls his family the most important part of his life and his wife of 22 years his best friend and support. Mr. Washington's family includes three beautiful children and one grandson.

The thing about himself that Mr. Washington would like his new community to know is that he believes his history of leadership, professional experience, professional development, service to education, and his personal integrity have prepared him for this important leadership role. "I pledge to serve the District and community with honor, integrity, and sound character," he stated.