New assistant superintendent named
LANSDALE >> A familiar face has reached the highest levels of North Penn’s leadership team.
Superintendent Curt Dietrich proposed, and the board unanimously approved, the promotion of D’Ana Waters to the post of assistant superintendent.
Since arriving in North Penn in 1995, Waters has worked first as an English as a Second Language assistant at Hatfield Elementary School, then a teacher from 1996 to 2005 at Oak Park Elementary, before becoming an intervention specialist and assistant to the principal at Penndale Middle School. In 2008 Waters returned to Hatfield as principal of that school, where she earned numerous recognitions including the Superintendent’s Honor Roll award in 2018, according to a biography provided by the district.
In August 2019, Waters was promoted to the newlycreated position of district Director of Curriculum and Equity, where she has led the district’s efforts to build cultural proficiency in both students and staff, updated policies to promote equity, and worked to update district
curricula and instruction to better support marginalized students and groups, while serving as co-chair of the district’s Cultural Proficiency Committee.
Dietrich’s motion recommended the board approve a three-year contract with Waters, effective July 1, to fill the assistant superintendent post left vacant with the departure of predecessor Jenna Rufo last fall. Waters has earned a bachelor’s degree in Speech Communications from West Chester University, a master’s degree in Elementary Education at Beaver College, a School Administration K-12 Certification from the University of Pennsylvania, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Immaculata University, where she now serves on the Dissertation Committee, according to the district.
Waters appeared via videoconference, with her two daughters smiling behind. After the vote, Waters thanked the board for their support, and echoed those sentiments in a statement from the district afterward.
“I feel honored and excited to take on this role and look forward to serving our students, staff, and community in a greater capacity,” Waters said.
“I am grateful to Dr. Dietrich and our School Board Directors for this opportunity and appreciate the confidence they have in me. I love working in North Penn and am proud to be starting yet another journey here.”