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Bethel Park hires new superintendent

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Bethel Park School District has hired a new superintendent.

The school board on Dec. 29 unanimously approved James Walsh for the top administrative post. He had served as superintendent of Burgettstown Area School District since 2015.

An Upper St. Clair resident, Walsh previously served as the principal at Jefferson Middle School and as a district-wide curriculum supervisor in Mt. Lebanon School District. As an administrator in Beaver County, he was director of curriculum and student achievement in Aliquippa School District and a principal in Hopewell School District.

Before entering administration, Walsh taught English, theater and television Production at Westlake High School in Maryland and later in Peters Township School District.

Walsh holds degrees from Duquesne University, the University of Maryland, and Nova Southeastern University in Florida. He serves as an adjunct faculty member at Point Park University’s School of Education.

In Bethel Park, Walsh succeeds Joseph Dimperio, who served as acting superintendent since the spring and led the search for his successor.

“The school district conducted a superintendent search that was thorough, deliberate, and thoughtful,” Dimperio said. “We carefully considered the feedback we received from our stakeholders, including our students, our staff and the community at large, and we are thrilled to have concluded this process with a candidate whose experience and strengths match up so well with the district’s priorities.”

According to Pam Dobos, school board president, the selection committee was particularly impressed with Walsh’s familiarity with curriculum and his plans to drive Bethel Park forward.

“His focused, creative solutions that emphasized collaboration and communication left us all feeling very confident that he is, indeed, the right leader to take the district to new academic heights,” she said.

Walsh will begin his five-year contract with the school district on a date yet to be determined and will receive an annual salary of $175,000.

“During our discussions, it became increasingly clear how important the school district is to the entire Bethel Park community and how many growth opportunities remain,” he said. “I look forward to locking arms with the many wonderful people already in place and working together every day to help make Bethel Park an even better school district.”

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