The Whitehall-Coplay School District is tapping an internal candidate for the district’s superintendent.
The school board Monday night also ratified a new teachers contract and said the final goodbyes to departing superintendent Robert Steckel.
Steckel announced his resignation in September; he is leaving for a job in the private sector and aided in the search for a new superintendent over the last few months.
Board members said the interview process for the new superintendent was quite rigorous, highlighting 10 “strong and qualified candidates.”
In the end, the district went with a familiar face, picking Chris Schiffert, the current assistant to the superintendent.
“We went through multiple interviews, and in the end, Mr. Schiffert was the best choice here to continue the momentum that we’re experiencing here in Whitehall,” said board member George Williams.
Schiffert, who has worked within the district for the past 14 years, said the promotion was an “honor.”
“I do greatly appreciate the opportunity and that process was tough having been in the district 15 years, but I’m grateful for the opportunity and I’ve said it before but coming to this district was really one of the best decisions I’ve made,” Schiffert said.
Schiffert was a teacher, assistant principal and principal in the Easton Area School District before joining Whitehall-Coplay, where he served as high school principal for six years before moving into his administrative role.
Steckler congratulated Schiffert on his promotion and thanked the school board members for their support during his administration.
“It’s been a great run,” Steckler said. “This support from this team has really enabled us to get a lot done in the last three and a half years and it took some time and a lot of change management, but we’ve got things really headed and in a strong direction.”
In addition to approving Schiffert’s new position, the board also ratified a new teachers contract.
The new agreement, effective through the 2028 school year, sets minimum salary at $60,917, rising to $66,660 for the final year of the contract.
The contract passed in a 6-1 vote, with board member Patty Gaugler voting against.
Punya Bhasin is a freelance writer.
