5 questions with incoming New Kensington-Arnold Superintendent Chris Sefcheck
Apr. 11—Not long after New Kensington-Arnold School District students celebrate the end of this school year, Chris Sefcheck will become the district's superintendent.
Sefcheck, 52, of South Park is expected to start as the district's new leader July 1. The school board approved hiring him to a five-year contract at its meeting Tuesday. He'll start at an annual salary of $135,000.
Sefcheck, who has 24 years in education as a teacher and administrator, also served eight years in the military, working in logistics management in the Air Force and the Pennsylvania National Guard. He comes to New Kensington-Arnold from the Bethlehem-Center School District in Washington County, where he has been superintendent for three years.
Sefcheck and his wife, Michelle, have four children: two 14-year-old sons, a 14-year-old daughter and a 12-year-old daughter.
The Tribune-Review asked Sefcheck to respond to the following five questions:
Q: Do you think school systems such as New Ken-Arnold and individual students were set back by the covid pandemic and, if so, how do you play catch up?
A: I believe kids in every district have encountered some sort of shortfall in their education to some extent. The good news is there's no need to panic. There's a ton of ways and resources to get kids caught up cognitively. The most important thing for us at New Kensington will be to assess where the kids are in each content area in order to identify any deficiencies they may have. We have to address any gaps methodically and strategically through creative scheduling and/or working with teachers to add it into their existing curriculum. The goal will be to implement instructional strategies that promote retention through unconventional methods.
Q: Beyond the pandemic and its impact, what are the biggest challenges facing New Ken-Arnold?
A: Obviously, with some budgetary issues, we have to be creative thinkers and problem solvers to accomplish our goals without the financial resources otherwise available to us. Having the (federal) CARES money is going to enable us to do some infrastructure things, but there are some strict rules as to how we can use that money. We have to be creative to accomplish our goals as best we can with the money we'll get from the government outside of our normal revenues.
Q: What were the biggest things that attracted you to take on this role at New Ken-Arnold?
A: First and foremost, the board was open and honest with me about the issues that are facing our district, and I immediately connected with them. They conducted a great process that really advertised what they were looking for and the steps to ensure that we were a good fit. What they were looking for is definitely my niche. I love being involved as an educational leader and not just as a manager. I really look forward to working with an amazing faculty and a strong leadership team to bring all the pieces together and put New Kensington on the map. We will truly transform the learning experience for students and staff.
Q: What will your first orders of business be when you take the helm July 1?
A: I want to hit the ground running. I will spend some time listening to the community, both within the school and the residents of New Kensington-Arnold itself. I want to hear what people have to say, what everyone's thoughts and perspectives are, and spend some time developing a plan after gathering all of the information to help New Kensington service the community's needs and to prepare the kids for life after school. I have plans for measuring staff development needs and devising a plan to provide the right professional development for the faculty and administration. Ultimately, the goal is to get everything into place quickly and efficiently, so we can address all the academic needs of all learners.
Q: When not working, what do you enjoy doing?
A: I love spending time playing sports with my wife and kids, like basketball, football, and golf — I am also an avid cyclist, which helps me reduce stress.
Brian C. Rittmeyer is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Brian at 724-226-4701, brittmeyer@triblive.com or via Twitter .
