The 2022-23 school year was filled with incredible achievements and new beginnings. Not only was this a nod to the opening of our innovative and award-winning (2022 Time magazine “Best Invention”) K-6 school, Ehrman Crest Elementary/Middle School, but it was also a reflection of the continued growth, evolution and progress that has taken place — and continues to take place — across our district.

And while the district is deeply proud of the continued recognition of Ehrman Crest, it comes secondary to the success indicators that matter most. The building has fundamentally changed how teachers teach. Students are as excited as ever to arrive and enjoy their day in the building. Every space we infused in this building is utilized on a daily basis.

A new type of school, that's what we set out to create; Ehrman Crest achieves this vision and raises the bar for school design moving forward. We look forward to our next project on the seven-12 secondary campus in Jackson Township that will focus on the Seneca Valley Intermediate High School. Stay tuned throughout the current school year to learn more.

In addition, we’re proud of our many partnerships that elevate our communities, and most especially our family partnerships, which allow us to authentically build strong connections.

As executive director of the Seneca Valley Foundation, I can tell you that the foundation is making a difference every year with the most recent school year reaching the million-dollar mark in fundraising. As we work with local business leaders to continue these efforts, we are simultaneously helping to further educational initiatives like early literacy, STEM education and global citizen initiatives. Please read more at www.svsd.net/SVFoundation.

As our families have come to expect, Seneca Valley is a place where students, faculty and staff inspire one another, connect with community members and ultimately excel inside and outside of the classroom. Many of our students have earned and continue to earn accolades for their academic, creative, musical and athletic talents. Our students are learning more and advancing faster than ever in the classroom and in extracurricular activities.

Our mission moving forward is to assist each student as they discover the gifts and talents they possess, and then feed their desire to reach the next level. All of us work to steer students to a higher level of learning. It is our responsibility to reach children at this level, engage them and ignite a spark as they move through the grades and schools that lead to their graduation, and as they plan for their next steps.

We take very seriously our role in teaching and reaching students while they are with us. This includes invaluable student and parent resources like mental health and wellness programs, including Care Solace, which provides free mental health services to our students, staff and their families.

We know our work is not finished. We have much more to do and look forward to the future that we know will be filled with continued academic growth and success. As Aristotle said, “Excellence is never an accident; it is the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction, skillful execution and the vision to see obstacles as opportunities.”

Our future is bright here at Seneca Valley, and I am honored to lead this district as we help prepare our students as they step out into the world to embrace life’s journey.

Tracy Vitale, who holds a doctorate in education, is superintendent of Seneca Valley School District.