Steven Yanni, finalist for New Hope-Solebury school superintendent position
The New Hope-Solebury School Board Search Committee announced Friday that they have selected Steven Yanni, currently assistant superintendent, as their finalist for the vacant superintendent position.
Prior to his current role, Yanni served as supervisor of curriculum, instruction, and assessment, as well as a principal, in East Pennsboro School District. He is currently completing his doctorate in educational leadership at Immaculata University.
“I am honored to be the finalist candidate to be the next New Hope-Solebury School District Superintendent,” said Yanni when asked for reaction to his selection by the search committee. “We have enjoyed a long tradition of excellence, and I look forward to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to ensure that our district continues to provide the best education possible for the students of our community.
“We will achieve great things together, working as a team,” continued Yanni. “I would like to thank the Board of School Directors for the confidence they have placed in me, and I thank Dr. Boccuti for his support of my leadership over the last several years. I look forward to the Board meeting on Monday evening.”
Yanni was the search committee’s top choice because of “his collaborative leadership style and strong commitment to students,” according to the district announcement. The New Hope-Solebury School Board will vote on his appointment at its Oct. 19 meeting, which also includes discussion of other personnel and budgetary issues.
Following the announcement of Raymond Boccuti’s resignation as superintendent of the New Hope-Solebury School District effective Nov. 30, the School Board of Directors created a search committee consisting of members Adrienne Deussing, Neale Dougherty, Tracy Keyes, and Sandy Weisbrot.
The search committee enlisted the assistance of the Bucks Intermediate Unit (BCIU) to conduct the search at no cost to the school district. The search committee also surveyed more than 190 parents, staff, and community members over a two week period.
The BCIU then conducted an intensive nationwide search, according to school district’s press release. Eighteen applications were received for the position, the search committee interviewed five applicants, and ultimately conducted final interviews of their top two candidates. Final interviews were conducted by six members of the board.
Intensive nationwide search is an interesting choice of words considering that no candidate west of Pittsburgh applied,a fact that was not challenged at the Oct. 19th meeting when I brought it up. And to get just 18 candidates to apply to a top school district with a number of amenities raises the question as to just how much effort the BCIU put into the search. In fact, out of the 18 who applied only 5 were impressive enough to warrant an interview.Did the BCIU advertise in the New York Times or the Los Angeles Times? On thing is very clear.
Going forward, when the BCIU comes knocking on the district’s door to help recruit candidates for positions, thank you, but no thank you.