The Board of Directors of the Saucon Valley School District announced Thursday that a new superintendent has been chosen to lead the district.
Dr. Craig B. Butler is currently the Superintendent of Schools for the Hazleton Area School District in Hazleton, Luzerne County, and was selected following a three-month search led by Dr. Charlene M. Brennan, Executive Director of the Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 in Easton.
“Dr. Butler was selected after a thorough search process that involved visiting the district and meeting with groups of staff, district administrators, and parents and community members,” a news release from Brennan and the district stated.
He began his educational career in Tucson, Ariz., as an instrumental music teacher and athletic director, and next worked in the Green River School District in Green River, Wyo., first as an assistant high school principal and then as its high school principal until 1999.
In 1999 he joined the State College Area School District, where he served for 14
years as the principal of the State College High School, according to the news release.
In April 2013, he was selected to be the Assistant Superintendent in the Hazleton Area School District, where he was responsible for curriculum and instruction for the district in grades 9-12; for alternative education programming; for coordination of professional development for over 750 faculty members; negotiations; and budgeting, among other responsibilities. In June 2015 he was promoted to the position of Superintendent of Schools for the Hazleton Area School District.
“Dr. Butler is a motivated educator with vision and 37 years experience in the field of education and administration,” the news release said. “He has expertise in curriculum development, supervision and instructional programs, in addition to experience in special education and pupil services.”
Butler is originally from Sugarloaf, Luzerne County.
He earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Arizona, and in 2009 earned his Doctor of Education degree in Educational Leadership from the Pennsylvania State University, the news release stated.
Butler is succeeding Dr. Monica McHale-Small, who has been Superintendent of Schools for the Saucon Valley School District since 2014 and who is retiring this summer.
