September 6, 2002

TO:                 News Editor

CONTACT:    Sheri L. Thompson

Director of Communications

                        Pennsylvania Associations of Elementary and          

                        Secondary School Principals

                        P.O. Box 39

                        122 Valley Street

                        Summerdale, PA 17093

                        (717) 732-4999 (Phone)

                        (717) 732-4890 (Fax)

                        [email protected]

RELEASE:     UPON RECEIPT

Principals’ Association Hires

New Executive Director

   (Harrisburg, PA)—The Pennsylvania Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals (PAESSP) has announced that J. Daniel Collins, D.Ed., a retired superintendent from the Downingtown Area School District, has been hired as the association’s new executive director.

   Dr. Collins brings a background of 32.5 years in public education to PAESSP. He has served 28 years as an administrator. He spent 19 ½ of those years as a superintendent in several school districts, including Downingtown, Hempfield and Dover. He began his career as an 11^th grade U.S. history teacher in Prince George’s County, Md., where he taught for five years.

   Dr. Collins received his bachelor’s and master’s of education degrees from Shippensburg University, and his doctoral degree in curriculum instruction from the Pennsylvania State University.

   He resides in Downington, with his wife, Grace. She is the director of the Chester County (Alternative) High School. They have two grown children.

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PAESSP’s mission is to: Assist members in fulfilling their role as instructional leaders and effective managers who promote the best educational program for all students; give members an effective voice in the educational decision-making process at the local, state and national levels; and improve members’ working conditions so that their rights are protected, their job descriptions are reasonable, the importance of

their instructional leadership role is instructional leadership role is recognized and

their salaries and fringe benefits are equitable.