Sto-Rox School District names new superintendent

STOWE TOWNSHIP, Pa. — With a unanimous decision, Megan Van Fossan is the new superintendent of the Sto-Rox School District.

The new superintendent says she’s excited for the opportunity to help turn the district around.

“I knew this is where I wanted to be. Why? Passion, heart, belief in the community. There is a joyfulness in our staff and a true belief that every kid can learn, " said Van Fossan.

She has worked in education for 25 years, and for the last two months, worked as the assistant to the superintendent of Sto-Rox Schools. She told Channel 11 that relationships will be the key in turning the district around.

“I would say that principals and administrators need to build relationships with teachers. Kids don’t work hard for teachers they don’t like, and I think that teachers the same that if you’re not going to build a relationship, it doesn’t work out,” said Von Fossan.

Sto-Rox District is working out a number of issues, from financial debt and mismanagement to physical violence in the halls and classrooms. The Pennsylvania Department of Education has put the district on a financial recovery plan. Van Fossan says she’ll use data to determine their overall success.

“We’ll be looking very closely at student data, the numbers of expulsions, the number of suspensions, the number of in school suspensions, the number of fights. We are going to be very data-driven moving forward here in the district,” she said.

On May 17, her focus will be on community engagement with parents and others. They’re holding a stakeholder meeting to find out what issues the students are having at home and how the school can act as a village to help every child succeed.

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