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West Chester Area School District Appoints Next Superintendent of Schools

The West Chester Area School District (WCASD) Board of Directors will vote on the appointment of Dr. David Christopher as its next superintendent of schools at a board meeting scheduled for Tuesday, September 26, 2023, at 7:00 p.m.

“I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Christopher as our new superintendent," said Susan Tiernan, president of the WCASD Board of Directors. “Dr. Christopher brings a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to our school district. We are confident that under his guidance, we will continue to provide the highest quality education for our students." Dr. Christopher

For the last four years, Christopher has served as the superintendent at Cumberland Valley School District (CVSD) in Mechanicsburg, PA. Prior to his appointment at CVSD, Christopher served as assistant superintendent, principal, director of curriculum, dean of students and elementary school teacher in several school districts across the commonwealth, including: North Allegheny School District, Juniata Valley School District and Huntingdon Area School District. In total, Christopher brings with him over 27 years of experience in public education and 8 years serving as a superintendent.

“I am incredibly excited to be joining the West Chester Area School District. I believe that my experience and my passion for serving students will be a great fit in a district that’s stated goal is to educate and inspire students to achieve their personal best,” commented Christopher. “I am thankful to the school board for this opportunity and for their belief in me.”

Christopher was recently voted in as an Alumni Trustee to his alma mater, Juniata College. He serves as a member and is on the advisory board of the National Center for Education Research and Technology. Additionally, he is a member of the Governing Board of the PA Association of School Administrators and has served for the past four years as the chair of the Association’s Innovative Teaching and Learning Committee.

Christopher received his undergraduate degree in elementary education and music from Juniata College, his master’s of educational leadership and policy from Shippensburg University and his superintendent letter of eligibility and doctorate of educational leadership and policy from Shippensburg University.

The West Chester Area School District received 36 applications from a diverse candidate pool that included superintendents, assistant superintendents and lifelong educators. The candidate pool was also diverse geographically with applications received from candidates from eight states.

From the applicant pool, eight highly qualified candidates were invited for a first-round interview and two candidates were invited to a second, final round of interviews. The Board conducted a thorough reference and background check as part of the process.

“With Dr. Christopher at the helm, we are poised for innovation, collaboration and excellence in education. I look forward to working closely with him to achieve our shared vision for our schools,” stated Tiernan.

Over the course of two months, the Board completed rigorous interviews to determine the degree of fit between the community’s criteria and the candidate's professional experiences. The interview process included in-depth questions developed from an analysis of stakeholder priorities gathered through focus groups and a survey to parents, staff and the community at large.

The criteria established through community engagement and the ideas brought forth by the candidates themselves lead to the selection of Christopher as West Chester Area School District's next superintendent.

“I think that my experience leading large school districts through school climate, safety, student wellness and equity initiatives as well as my experience in supporting teacher retention and staff satisfaction will help me to have an immediate impact in addressing areas of focus shared by community members as part of the Superintendent Search Process,” Christopher adds. “I look forward to spending time with students and staff members in WCASD schools to truly understand their lived experiences and to ensure that the district remains focused on preparing our students to be successful in a rapidly changing world.”

Christopher will be replacing Dr. Kalia Reynolds, who has been serving as the substitute superintendent since January 2023. At that time, Reynolds will resume her role as assistant superintendent for the district. Christopher is expected to begin his duties as superintendent at West Chester Area School District on December 4, 2023. To view a welcome message from Dr. Christopher, please visit www.wcasd.net/DCIntroduction.