Superintendent Search

The State College Area School District began the search for a new superintendent on April 18, 2022. Throughout the process, the Board of Directors will keep the community informed through email communications, press releases and this website. You are always welcome to contact the Board of Directors using the email address all-board@scasd.org. 

The Board of Directors held second interviews for several candidates the week of Jan. 9, 2023. During this round, they spent more time with each candidate to truly explore their fit for our district. At the Board of Directors meeting on Feb. 20, 2023, our superintendent search consultant, Tom Templeton, presented feedback gathered from the community about the district and preferred superintendent candidate characteristics. A summary of the community feedback is now available on this website.

On Monday, March 13, 2023, the Board approved the appointment of Curtis Johnson as our new superintendent of schools. For the last 10 months, Mr. Johnson has led the district as our interim superintendent, and he previously served as the assistant superintendent of secondary schools. 

Mr. Johnson is an accomplished leader with more than 20 years of experience as an administrator and nearly 30 years in education. He has spent the majority of his career in our district. He started here in 2003 as a grade-level principal at State High after working in the Reading School District as a principal and an administrator. He began his career in public schools as a counselor and this work has unquestionably shaped his leadership style. 

Mr. Johnson has a proven track record of listening, seeking to understand diverse viewpoints, fostering civil conversations and building consensus towards workable solutions. As the State High principal, he led the transition of the staff and student body into our new high school building and shepherded a change in the school climate and culture. In his time as interim superintendent, Mr. Johnson has used the talents of our administrative team to shape the ideals of the community-crafted strategic plan into actionable goals. Mr. Johnson’s student-centered approach to leadership will enhance our efforts toward serving every student, every day. 

Completed in consultation with Templeton Advantage, the superintendent search process yielded dozens of applications from an impressive and diverse field of candidates. The Board leveraged extensive community input to inform a rigorous interview process that sought a candidate that would fit our community’s criteria and possess the skills necessary to lead our district. The Board is incredibly grateful to the community, staff, students, parents and others for their participation in building a candidate profile. Mr. Johnson is uniquely qualified to lead our school district. The Board embraces the opportunity to continue our work with him as the superintendent of schools.