School Board Elevates Newly Hired Director to Assistant Superintendent

Monica McHale-Small – hired last month as director of pupil personnel – has been elevated to the vacant position of assistant superintendent.

Dr. McHale-Small will be paid a pro-rated 2011-2012 salary of $132,130 in the first year of a four-year contract. Her annual salary figures in future years were not immediately available. Her previous 2011-2012 salary was $124,754.

In addition to approving her deal, the school board Tuesday hired longtime employee Tammy Wood as supervisor of pupil personnel. Her new salary is $122,847.

McHale-Small told Patch her quick elevation came as a surprise.

“I picked this district wanting to be either an assistant superintendent or a director,” she added. “It was more important what kind of district it was.”

She told the board she was “deeply honored” by the promotion and believes the “student-centered district” can reach its goal of being the premiere educational entity in Bucks County.

The assistant superintendent position was vacated last month when David Baugh was promoted to the superintendent role. He replaced Bill Gretzula who stepped down in June to spend more time with his family. Gretzula now serves as the district's supervisor of curriculum and instruction – professional development and assessment.

McHale-Small had succeeded Ann Marie Klibert, who resigned after 38 years with the district.

To join the district, she left the position of director of secondary teaching and learning for the Springfield (Pa.) School District. Before that, she worked from 2003 through 2008 as the supervisor of student services for the West Chester (Pa.) Area School District. She also has served as school psychologist in the Upper Darby, Cornwall-Lebanon and the West Chester Area school districts.

McHale-Small received her bachelor's degree in psychology from Cabrini College, a master's of education in psychological services; and her doctorate in philosophy, psychology in education, interdisciplinary studies in human development from the University of Pennsylvania.

She served on the executive board of the National Association of Pupil Services Administrators from 2006 through 2010.

Wood, a graduate of Bensalem High, has worked for the district ten years, mostly as a social worker. But she also served as acting director of pupil personnel services from 2008 to 2010 and as emergency safety coordinator for three years.

Her new supervisor's position, unlike McHale-Small's previous director's job, is not considered a cabinet post. And McHale-Small explained that under new job descriptions approved Tuesday she will retain some of the responsibilities she had as director of pupil personnel.