Delco I.U. hires Butz to lead technical education program
MORTON » Southeast Delco School District’s top educator will be leaving his post for the Delaware County Intermediate Unit.
The I.U. board Wednesday approved hiring Stephen Butz to serve as the director of career and technical education, effective no later than February 2020, at a starting salary of $167,000.
Butz, who has been superintendent of schools for Southeast Delco since 2009, said he is happy about the next step in his career as an educator.
“I have had many opportunities to participate in meetings at the Delaware County Technical Schools and to observe the quality technical programs we have at our schools,” he said Thursday. “I completed my vocational director program in 2005 with the intent of becoming a career and technical education director. I am thrilled to be able to return back to technical education at a time that Gov. Tom Wolf and state leaders are emphasizing the need for students to graduate from our schools prepared to work in trades and industries that require a high skilled workforce.”
The new position will expand his role as an educator from six schools and 4,300 students to a countywide program to guide high school students and adults in technical education programming. Butz will oversee the daily operations of the county’s technical schools located in Aston, Broomall and Folcroft, the consortium for federally funded secondary career and technical education programs, the adult practical nursing program and adult career and technical education programs.
Budget management, grant writing, and staff evaluations are additional responsibilities Butz will acquire in his director position.
Butz cited the skill sets he gained in his career in technical education as helping him for a larger education role.
“My previous experiences at Bucks County Technical High School and at Southeast Delco provided me with a strong foundation of skills to take with me to this new position,” he said. “I have found through the years that great things can happen when people are committed to the continuous improvement and learning that is needed in our rapidly changing world.”
His move to the I.U. comes just over halfway through his three-year superintendent contract with Southeast Delco. School board President Theresa Harris-Johnson could not be reached Thursday to inquire about who will replace Butz.
Accepting the new position was not an easy decision for Butz.
“I have enjoyed serving the students of Southeast Delco over the past decade. I will greatly miss the many dedicated teachers, support staff, and school leaders in Southeast Delco. I am very thankful for all that they do for our students,” he said.
Butz said he will start his new position in January or early February.