Bensalem Township School District officials turned to an insider to take the helm as its next superintendent.
Board of education members are slated to approve current Interim Superintendent Victoria Velaquez to the top post at their Sept. 23 meeting, according the Bucks County Intermediate Unit, which helped the district search for its next leader after Superintendent Samuel Lee left the role earlier this year.
Velaquez, who has worked in the Bensalem district for 12 years, has led the district since.
"As Interim Superintendent, Dr. Velazquez has worked with the Board and district leaders on organizational systems, fiscal stewardship, school safety, communication, and teaching and learning during a consequential period for the district," the IU
news release stated. "She has also continued to build partnerships with families and the broader Bensalem community."
She has a long and diverse tenure in the large district located outside Philadelphia.
Velazquez has served in as assistant to the superintendent for K-12 administration, director of elementary curriculum and instruction/federal programs, and supervisor of data and assessment/federal programs, according to the IU.
Before her time in Bensalem, she served as a principal in Philadelphia and Norristown.
Velazquez was one of 27 applicants from five states for the job.
She holds bachelor’s and master’s from Temple University, a principal certification from Drexel University, and a doctorate in educational leadership, management, and policy, plus superintendent certification, from Seton Hall University.
She's also heavily involved in the Bensalem community and a parent of a district graduate.
“Becoming Superintendent in Bensalem Township School District is a true honor for me for many reasons, but perhaps none greater than the responsibility of helping ensure that every child who enters our schools has those same opportunities to discover their strengths, dream without limits, find their own path, and leave our district prepared to take the world by storm in whatever way they choose," she said in the news release.
Velazquez is expected to be sworn in Oct. 1.
The IU did not provide salary information. When Lee left he was making about $232,000 in the post.
“Throughout this process, and through my experience working alongside Dr. Victoria Velazquez, I have witnessed her lead with humility, diligence, integrity, and a genuine love for Bensalem," Deborah King, board president, said in a statement.
"She knows this community, she believes in this community, and she understands that our students must remain at the heart of every decision we make. Her leadership is grounded not in a desire for recognition, but in a deep commitment to service. I look forward to working alongside Dr. Velazquez as we begin this next chapter for the Bensalem Township School District."
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Bensalem school officials pick longtime district vet as superintendent
