BTSD Celebrates Lou deFonteny's 27 Years in District

Lou deFonteny has been a pillar in the Bristol Township School District community for more than 45 years as an alumnus and longtime employee. It is with both fondness and sadness that BTSD announces that deFonteny, director of special education and pupil services, has accepted a position as director of pupil services at Palisades School District. On December 16, the Palisades Board of Directors voted in approval and his last day in BTSD will be February 17.

deFonteny has been the director of special education and pupil services in Bristol Township since 2014. He is proud of the services the District has been able to provide to all students, but particularly for students with disabilities. “We made significant gains in providing inclusive services for students,” he said.

Recently, deFonteny helped create a multi-tier system of support in each building and increase pupil services staff, which has greatly benefited struggling students. Currently each elementary school and middle school has two counselors, one social worker and one psychologist, and the high school has six counselors, one social worker and one psychologist.

“My experience as a student was my greatest asset as a teacher and administrator,” said deFonteny, who said it helped him be more empathetic to their needs and focus on the student as a whole.

deFonteny knew at a very young age what he wanted to do with his life. When he was in sixth grade at Lafayette Elementary School, deFonteny submitted to the school yearbook that he wanted to work with students with disabilities. He says that Lafayette had a large number of students receiving special education support and because of this, he became comfortable being around them at the age of 5.

deFonteny attended Franklin Delano Roosevelt Middle School and graduated from Harry S. Truman High School. He received a bachelor’s degree in special education from Bloomsburg University and later went on to earn a master’s degree in education administration from Ryder University.

Upon graduation, he received offers from a couple of school districts. “Bristol Township being home, that’s where I wanted to be,” said deFonteny. “To be able to come back and work with these people again, it was remarkable.”

He accepted his first job as a long-term assignment special education teacher at John Fitch Elementary School in April of 1993. By September, he became a contracted employee in BTSD. deFonteny served in many schools and in many roles throughout the District including special education teacher at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, FDR Middle School and Armstrong Middle School, department chair of special education at Armstrong Middle School, acting principal at Lafayette Elementary School, principal at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, supervisor of special education, interim director of pupil services, and finally, director of special education and pupil services.

In his new role as director of pupil services at Palisades School District, deFontenty is looking forward to getting back to directly working with students, teachers and parents on a consistent basis.

Despite his move, he will always consider BTSD home. “During my time at Bristol Township, the students, parents and staff that I’ve had the opportunity to work with will be sorely missed,” said deFonteny. “It truly is a great group of people and I will miss being a part of this community.”

The BTSD community will greatly miss deFonteny’s presence as well.

“Lou has been a huge asset to Bristol Township and it is hard to see him go,” said Superintendent Melanie Gehrens. “We wish him success in his new role at Palisades School District and thank him for everything he has done here.”