West Chester Area District Welcomes New Assistant Principal

WEST CHESTER, PA — With just three months on the job as Assistant Principal at East High School, Abigail Dougherty is making a positive impact on the students, school officials said this week.

“In her role, Dougherty acts as a positive leader for both students and staff,” said Dr. Cheryl Newton-Woods, interim assistant superintendent of the West Chester Area School District.

“She not only brings a new, unique perspective to our district but also a sincere understanding of our mission to help students achieve the personal best, whatever that may look like.”

In addition to her role as assistant principal, Dougherty is also the 11th-grade administrator at East High School in West Goshen Township.

Dougherty said she appreciates seeing how the students challenge themselves and the world around them.

“That’s how learning should be, a challenge that pushes us to grow and connect more deeply,” she said.

Dougherty said she is having an exceptional experience overseeing East’s innovative teaching team.

“I’ve been so impressed with the new opportunities and initiatives we’ve developed to engage with students,” she said, “East has a great environment, and I’m looking forward to continuing to help our school and community grow.”

Experience

Dougherty comes to the district with experience as an assistant principal in the Harrisburg School District.

Dougherty also worked in the York and Lancaster districts. In York, she taught English to students in grades 10 through 12. In Lancaster, she was a support team leader assistant in building a tiered system of academic support.

Education

Dougherty’s passion for equity and empowering students has pushed her to pursue multiple advanced degree programs.

She earned a master’s of English from Southern New Hampshire University, Manchester; a master's degree in Education in Urban School Leadership and a Pennsylvania Administrative Certification from Temple University, Philadelphia; and a master's of Education in Multicultural Education from Eastern University, Radnor.