Equity Summit More Information
Bensalem Township School District cordially invites you to our
Equity Summit
Wednesday, June 2, 2021
6:00 - 8:00 PM
Bensalem High School
4319 Hulmeville Road, Bensalem, PA 19020
- OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC! The Launch of our Campaign for Equity, Excellence and Unity in our School Community!
- Advancing Educational Equity for All Students and Families
- Bensalem Township School District unanimously passed a resolution supporting the development of an anti-racist school climate on August 26, 2020. We have undergone an independent review of our District and are ready to begin our work with this kick-off event.
- Learn how the concept of equity unites, not divides.
- Find out what being anti-racist really means.
- Discover what other schools in our area are already doing to promote inclusion.
Keynote Speaker:
Valda Valbrun, The Valbrun Consulting Group
Valda Valbrun is an established educational leader known for passion toward inclusive, research-based, and data-driven pedagogy.As a system change facilitator, she has a proven track record of supporting schools, districts and organizations to change practices and establish systems. She is known as a dynamic speaker, professional developer, teacher, administrator, entrepreneur, advocate, and student champion.
Ms. Valbrun has worked nationally on leadership development and executive coaching and provides coaching and professional development to school and district leaders. She started her career 29 years ago and currently provides leadership development and consulting as well as training specifically targeted to build the capacity of culturally proficient leaders and staff who can address issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion.
As an educational leader and equity specialist, she is a certified administrator of The Intercultural Development Inventory® (IDI®) which assesses intercultural competence. Ms. Valbrun is also trained and certified in Facilitative Leadership for Social Change to help her clients as they manage issues of culture, class, and equity and confront systems that threaten inclusive practices.
Ms. Valbrun has been a teacher, principal, and district level leader. In addition to these roles, Ms. Valbrun has served as the director of professional learning at ASCD and as the executive director of organizational development for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (NC). She currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Guest Speakers:
Abington School District
Dr. Jeffrey S. Fecher, Superintendent of Schools
Abington School District
Dr. Jeffrey S. Fecher, Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Jeffrey S. Fecher became Superintendent of the Abington School District in November 2018. He was previously Assistant Superintendent for six years, and prior to that, served as Principal of Abington Senior High School and Principal-Elect of Willow Hill Elementary School. Since becoming Superintendent, Dr. Fecher has worked to enhance communications and community engagement, with a focus on equity and inclusion, creating the position of the District’s first-ever Equity Officer.
Dr. Fecher earned a Doctorate of Education in educational and organizational leadership from the University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Arts in educational administration from Rider University, and Bachelor of Arts degrees in English literature and secondary education English from La Salle University, where he also minored in women’s studies.
Before joining Abington School District, Dr. Fecher was a middle school assistant principal in the Flemington-Raritan School District, and an English teacher at Bordentown Regional High School–both in New Jersey.
Dr. Kristopher Brown, Equity Officer
Dr. Kristopher Brown has been the Equity Officer for Abington School District since February 2020. He is the District’s first-ever Equity Officer, a position that was created in an effort to assess and cultivate equity to enhance recruitment and retention of staff, provide professional development, and promote the achievement of students from diverse and under-represented populations within the District.
Prior to this role, Dr. Brown most recently served as Principal of Strath Haven High School in the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District after spending four years there as assistant principal. He is an alumnus of Abington Senior High School, where he began his educational career as a social studies teacher after earning his bachelor’s degree at Villanova University.
Dr. Brown earned a master’s degree from Delaware Valley University, and a doctorate in educational leadership from Saint Joseph’s University, a university at which he also serves as an adjunct professor.
Pennsbury School District
Dr. William J. Gretzula, Superintendent of Schools
Dr. William Gretzula has been Superintendent of the Pennsbury School District since July 2016. Dr. Gretzula came to the District with with an understanding of the proud history of success that students and staff within the Pennsbury school community had experienced; however, he intentionally built upon the culture of continuous improvement that was in place.
With a focus on excellence and equity, the District has spent the past four years intentionally working to diversify the work force, infuse curricular revisions, provide access to high quality instruction for all students, and provide meaningful professional learning opportunities to foster cultural proficiency and cultural relevance.
Dr. Gretzula’s own educational background includes a Bachelor’s in Elementary and Special Education from LaSalle University, a Master’s in Education Administration from Rider University, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania.
Professionally, Dr. Gretzula taught six years at the elementary level providing services for students with specialized learning needs. He then transitioned into administration where he served as a Middle School Assistant Principal, Elementary Principal, Assistant Superintendent and Superintendent.
Dr. Gretzula, his wife and two children reside in Philadelphia, PA.
Dr. Cherrissa Gibson, Director of Equity, Diversity and Education
With a focus on excellence and equity, the District has spent the past four years intentionally working to diversify the work force, infuse curricular revisions, provide access to high quality instruction for all students, and provide meaningful professional learning opportunities to foster cultural proficiency and cultural relevance.
Dr. Gretzula’s own educational background includes a Bachelor’s in Elementary and Special Education from LaSalle University, a Master’s in Education Administration from Rider University, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania.
Professionally, Dr. Gretzula taught six years at the elementary level providing services for students with specialized learning needs. He then transitioned into administration where he served as a Middle School Assistant Principal, Elementary Principal, Assistant Superintendent and Superintendent.
Dr. Gretzula, his wife and two children reside in Philadelphia, PA.
Dr. Cherrissa Gibson, Director of Equity, Diversity and Education
Cherrissa Gibson, Ed.D. is the Director of Equity, Diversity, and Education in the Pennsbury School District in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Dr. Gibson is responsible for guiding efforts to define, understand, assess, and cultivate equity among the District’s students, faculty, and staff as well as enhance educational programs to promote equity.
Pennridge School District
Dr. David A. Bolton, Superintendent of Schools
Dr. David Bolton has been Superintendent of the Pennridge School District since August of 2018. Since coming to Pennridge, Dr. Bolton has stressed relationships, student and staff wellness, quality instruction, and meaningful learning.
His academic background includes a Bachelor’s in Mathematics from Lebanon Valley College, a Master’s in Education Leadership from Arcadia University, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Widener University.
Professionally, he taught Mathematics in grades 7-10 in the Pennsbury School District for 12 years. He then served as a building administrator in both the Pennsbury and Central Bucks School Districts, before becoming the Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education in Central Bucks.
Dr. Bolton, his wife, and four children live in Doylestown.
His academic background includes a Bachelor’s in Mathematics from Lebanon Valley College, a Master’s in Education Leadership from Arcadia University, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Widener University.
Professionally, he taught Mathematics in grades 7-10 in the Pennsbury School District for 12 years. He then served as a building administrator in both the Pennsbury and Central Bucks School Districts, before becoming the Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education in Central Bucks.
Dr. Bolton, his wife, and four children live in Doylestown.
Dr. Cheri Derr, Director of Pupil Services
Dr. Cheri Derr has been the Director of Pupil Services at the Pennridge School District since February of 2018. Since coming to Pennridge, Dr. Derr has focused on special education inclusion of students, mental health resources and supports for students and most recently the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiative among many other of her duties.
Her academic background includes a Bachelor’s in Elementary/Early Childhood Education from Millersville University, a Master’s in Special Education from Penn State University, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Wilkes University.
Professionally, she taught Kindergarten in Elizabethtown, PA, and Special Education in Berks County Schools. She served as the Director of Special Education and Student Services for the Berks County Intermediate Unit before coming to Pennridge.
Her academic background includes a Bachelor’s in Elementary/Early Childhood Education from Millersville University, a Master’s in Special Education from Penn State University, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Wilkes University.
Professionally, she taught Kindergarten in Elizabethtown, PA, and Special Education in Berks County Schools. She served as the Director of Special Education and Student Services for the Berks County Intermediate Unit before coming to Pennridge.