Centennial's David Baugh Named PA Superintendent Of The Year

WARMINSTER, PA — David Baugh, superintendent of the Centennial School District, has been named Pennsylvania's 2020 superintendent of the year.

The award is handed out annually by the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators. It is designed to inspire education leaders in the state's public schools.

"Since 2015, Dr. Baugh has demonstrated visionary leadership in education to positively impact administrators, teachers, families, students and the larger community stakeholders," a news release from the association said. "His forward thinking and planning ensures his current and prior districts are poised to be on the cutting edge of teaching and learning, brain-based research and collaborative leadership to ensure the greatest impact upon student and district outcomes."

Baugh took the top schools post at Centennial in 2015, after serving as acting superintendent in nearby Neshaminy School District and as superintendent of Bensalem Township schools from 2011-15.

He had previous experience as an administrator and teacher at the elementary, middle, high school and collegiate level. He holds a doctorate in Education Leadership from Seton Hall University, a master's degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a master's of humanities from Aberdeen University in Aberdeen, Scotland.

In the release, the association cited Baugh's work partnering with the Franklin Institute while with Bensalem schools. At Centennial, the release said, Baugh "has focused on disrupting a district-wide downward spiral by changing how people think about their work and deliver instruction."

It says he has worked to move beyond test scores in evaluating learning, bring in stable, competent administrative staff, and align curriculum to the PA Common Core, providing math-specific professional development and instructional coaches for teaching staff, among other initiatives.

In the high school, it says, he has expanded student access to advanced placement courses while providing support and structure for the students in those courses.

"Dr. Baugh is a man of outstanding character who will always passionately speak the truth, no matter how difficult, even in the face of great adversity, to ensure that the voices of his diverse students will never be silent," a former member of his leadership team said, according to the release.

Baugh will be recognized at a special PASA luncheon on Monday, Dec. 16 in
Warminster. As the Pennsylvania honoree, he and 49 other state honorees will be
recognized in February during the AASA National Conference on Education in San Diego,
California.

The group's superintendent of the year is selected by a panel of school administrators.