LANCASTER, Pa. — The School District of Lancaster is adding four new members to its leadership team.
The district announced Monday it is recommending the appointment of two assistant superintendents and a director of athletics as part of a leadership reorganization.
"The district is reorganizing its leadership team and consolidating some departments under two new assistant superintendents: Dr. April Hershey and Christopher Lopez," the school district said.
Former assistant superintendent Matthew Przywara stepped down in August, according to the district.
Hershey served as superintendent of Warwick School District for 15 years before stepping down in June. Her role will be “assistant superintendent of schools,” and she will oversee the offices of school leadership, which comprises elementary and middle school principals, data analytics, and curriculum, instruction, and assessment, the district said.
“It is a tremendous opportunity for our district to bring someone with Dr. Hershey’s track record and experience onto our leadership team,” SDoL superintendent Dr. Keith Miles said. “My team and I are very excited to work with her.”
Lopez, the district’s current executive director of student services, will be promoted to “assistant superintendent of student services” and will oversee college and career readiness, safety, special education, student services, and alternative programs. He will also supervise the high school principal.
“The mental health and wellbeing of our students is a top priority in our strategic plan, and this reorganization elevates this work to the highest levels of our organization,” Dr. Miles said.
And the board will vote on the appointment of former McCaskey basketball star Teasia Pena as director of athletics, replacing Jon Mitchell, who is retiring at the end of September. Pena, a member of the McCaskey Athletic Hall of Fame member, is currently assistant director of athletics at Lancaster Mennonite School, where she also oversees Lancaster Mennonite’s youth program.
At its meeting Aug. 6, the board approved a contract for Drew Schenk as chief of finance and operations. Schenk, formerly the district’s director of operations, will oversee the departments of finance, facilities, food services, and information technology.
The CFO position has been vacant since Przywara was elevated to acting superintendent in July 2022. The District is still searching for director of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB).
