Butler school board hires new director of curriculum
CONNOQUENESSING TWP — The new director of curriculum, instruction and professional development at Butler Area School District has big shoes to fill.
Julie Hopp, who serves in the role, submitted her resignation in March, and it is effective Aug. 9, which will leave a big hole in the district’s administration, said Brian White, the district’s superintendent. The school board unanimously approved the hiring of Laura Miller, training and consultation coordinator for the Allegheny Intermediate Unit 3, for the role during a community engagement session Monday, April 22.
White said at Monday’s meeting the board doesn’t typically vote at community engagement sessions, but administrators wanted to retain Miller as soon as possible.
“Professional employees in Pennsylvania can be held by an entity for 60 days, and that’s part of why we’re doing it tonight,” he said. “Dr. Miller comes to us with a myriad of experiences that I think will benefit very well, she did extremely well throughout her interview process, which included multiple rounds and presentation and data analysis.”
According to a news release from the district, prior to her role at Allegheny Intermediate Unit 3, Miller was an assistant principal at Forest Hills Elementary School, dean of students at Forest Hills Junior High and educational consultant for Appalachia Intermediate Unit 8.
Miller earned her Ed.D. in Education Leadership and Administration from Point Park University; her Master’s of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Clarion University; and her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Robert E. Cook Honors College at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Additionally, Miller holds both her Superintendent Letter of Eligibility and her K-12 Principal Certification.
Miller’s salary will be $147,589, and her starting date has yet to be determined, according to White, but there should be some overlap between her first day and Hopp’s last, he said.
White previously explained that the director of curriculum, instruction and professional development is a vital administrative role that “cuts across all the buildings” and works with all instructional staff, so the person hired had to be able to manage those facets.
Miller said she is anticipating jumping in to working with the district.
“I am eager to delve deeper into the distinct qualities of the Butler Area School District and community and look forward to working closely with every aspect of the school community to enrich educational opportunities for all learners,” Miller said.
White announced to the school board and staff that Connoquenessing Elementary has been nominated as a National Blue Ribbon School, and the school is in the process of completing the necessary paperwork for the award.
“I’m really proud of the work we’ve done here,” White said.
