Schools Superintendent Search Sessions Next Week In Jenkintown

JENKINTOWN BOROUGH, PA — The superintendent search is expanding into another public forum.

After launching an online survey seeking community feedback last month, the school district will now hold three open "listening sessions" next week for residents to provide feedback.

Carolyn Riley, Jenkintown's school board president, is offering the school community to participate and provide their perspective on the search to replace Schools Superintendent Jill Takacs, who is retiring at the end of the school year.

Riley said the three sessions will take place on Zoom. Interested residents should log in for the Zoom calls.

They are scheduled for:

• Monday, Jan. 12, 8 a.m. — https://zoom.us/my/sedling
• Monday, Jan. 12, 4 p.m. — https://zoom.us/my/sedling
• Thursday, Jan. 15, 7 p.m. — https://zoom.us/my/sedling

Residents can find direct links to the sessions by clicking here for the district's search website.

"Your feedback is a very important part of this process as it will ultimately help to inform the board's future decision," Riley said.

Schools Superintendent Jill Takacs informed school directors that she would retire at the end of her current term, which concludes on Aug. 31.

Takacs came under fire by community members for her leadership of the school district and even took a temporary paid leave earlier this year.

Before her tenure, Takacs was the assistant superintendent of the Middletown Township Public Schools in Middletown, N.J.

As an educator for 35 years, she has served as teacher, assistant principal, principal, curriculum director, assistant superintendent, and acting superintendent.

She has been recognized and awarded on the state and local levels for her educational contributions with these endeavors including the 2015 Governor’s Educational Services Professionals Award, and has been featured on the New Jersey Department of Education’s website promoting educational initiatives, according to the school district's website.