(From a press release)
The Central Bucks Board of School Directors will consider an employment agreement with Dr. Steven Yanni to serve as the next superintendent of schools at the regularly scheduled meeting of the board on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. The Board will hold a Community Forum to introduce Dr. Steven Yanni on Monday, May 13, at Central Bucks High School West Auditorium located at 375 West Court Street, Doylestown.
Steven Yanni has over two decades of teaching and leadership experience, most recently serving as Superintendent of the Lower Merion School District in Montgomery County. Prior to that, Dr. Yanni served as the superintendent in the School District of Upper Dublin, also in Montgomery County (2018-2023), and the New Hope-Solebury School District of Bucks County (2015-2018). As a Superintendent, Dr. Yanni has exhibited a deep commitment to cultivating inclusive learning environments where every student can thrive and to the power of collaboration among parents, guardians, educators, and community stakeholders to ensure equitable access to high-quality education and ample opportunities for success.
Under Dr. Yanni’s leadership, several districts have implemented pioneering initiatives supporting personalized learning, structured literacy, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) education, and project-based learning. Dr. Yanni has been a driving force behind efforts to improve access to technology and expand career readiness programs, empowering students to make informed decisions about their post-graduation paths.
“The Board is very excited and pleased to introduce Dr. Yanni to our community,” said school board President Karen Smith. “We believe his substantial experience as a Superintendent will be invaluable to us in Central Bucks and look forward to his leadership as we continue to work to create a bright future for all our students. Finding someone for this important position with Dr. Yanni’s extensive level of knowledge, proven track record of expanding and advancing educational offerings, and dedication to putting students first, ensures our district’s ability to continue to offer the highest level of quality education.”
“I consider it both an honor and privilege to be chosen to serve as the next superintendent of the Central Bucks School District,” said Yanni. “In this role, I will remain unwavering in my commitment to equipping every student with the essential academic and problem-solving skills needed for personal growth, responsible citizenship, and lifelong learning in a district that focuses on academic excellence, empowerment, and innovative educational practices.”
The Central Bucks Board of School Directors (the Board) invites all community members to attend a Community Forum introducing Dr. Yanni on Monday, May 13, 2024, at 6 p.m. in the auditorium of Central Bucks High School West located at 375 West Court St., Doylestown, PA 18901. The event will also be live streamed and recorded, with those links to be made available on the school district’s website.
In addition to introductory remarks from Dr. Yanni, the Community Forum will include student performances, and a question-and-answer period facilitated by Dr. Mark Hoffman, Executive Director of the Bucks County Intermediate Unit (Bucks IU). The Board welcomes input from district stakeholders on which themes should be covered in the questions presented to Dr. Yanni. Community members are invited to submit up to two (2) questions for consideration through the following survey.
Questions may be submitted up until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, May 8, 2024.
Submitted questions will be consolidated by common themes to allow for Dr. Yanni to address the maximum number of topics possible during this Community Forum. The format for the evening does not provide an opportunity for questions or comments from the audience during the forum itself. Instead, all questions must be submitted in advance using the link above.
Dr. Yanni will receive a copy of all submitted questions. The board has chosen this format to ensure that the maximum number of questions can be asked by the moderator in the time allotted.
The Board began their search process in February 2024, engaging with the Bucks IU to serve as its search consultant. On behalf of the Board, the Bucks IU conducted a community survey from February 28, 2024, through March 8, 2024, to identify the community’s opinions and priorities. More than 960 parents, guardians, taxpayers, students, staff, and other community members responded to the survey, offering feedback on the ideal characteristics and attributes of the future superintendent. The survey also captured what the community believes to be the district’s priorities for the immediate and long-term future. The survey results were shared with the community on the district website and through district communication channels.
As the search consultant, the Bucks IU facilitated a comprehensive search process, actively recruiting qualified candidates and advertising the position in local, regional, state, and national publications. The position was advertised from February 27, 2024, through March 24, 2024. Thirty-two candidates applied for the position. All decisions relating to interviews and candidate selection rested solely with the Central Bucks Board of School Directors. The Board thoroughly reviewed all the candidate applications and selected nine applicants to move forward to a first round of interviews. Six candidates were from Pennsylvania, and one each from Delaware, Iowa, and New Jersey. Following these initial interviews, the Board invited three applicants back for a second, increasingly rigorous round of questioning which also required the candidates to complete writing exercises and prepare presentations relevant to district priorities. The Board invited two applicants to return for a third round of interview questioning after which, the decision was reached to offer Dr. Steven Yanni the position of Superintendent of Schools.
