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WASD Names Dr. Richard Poole as Its New Assistant Superintendent

District Wide

March 01, 2022 | Community

Headshot of Dr. Poole

WILLIAMSPORT, PA. (MARCH 1, 2022) — The Williamsport Area School District hired Dr. Richard Poole as its new assistant superintendent Tuesday night.

Poole, who is currently the district’s student services director, will take on his new post beginning July 1. He will replace Dr. Susan L. Bigger, who is set to retire on June 30.   

“Dr. Poole has been an integral member of our administrative team in each of the positions he’s held over the years,” said Superintendent Dr. Timothy S. Bowers. “He brings with him a rich professional background that’s rooted right here in the district. I’m pleased to welcome him as the new assistant superintendent. I have confidence that he has the leadership ability to continue moving the district in a positive direction.”

“I look forward to working with faculty and staff on building relationships with our students and community,” Poole said. “I’m focused on continuing to drive strong instructional practices and developing safe schools where our students can continue to grow academically in an environment that promotes problem-solving and meets the social and emotional needs of all our students.”

Poole will bring with him more than 20 years of combined teaching and administrative experience that have prepared him for this position.  

He began his career in education as a health and physical education teacher at Williamsport Area High School in 2001. He became the assistant principal at Jackson Elementary School in 2004 until 2009. From there, he continued in his role as assistant principal at Curtin Middle School, Williamsport Area Middle School and WAHS over the course of six years. He became principal of Hepburn-Lycoming Primary School in 2015 before taking on his latest administrative post at the start of the 2016-2017 school term.

Among the number of responsibilities held as student services director, Poole has worked to centralize and streamline the new student and kindergarten registration process. He’s worked to make significant strides in meeting the mental and emotional health needs of all students through curriculum and systems development in the areas of suicide prevention, trauma and counseling services. Additionally, he’s coordinated all aspects of school safety, including the implementation of more than $1.5 million of school safety improvements. He’s also led the district in executing its comprehensive safety plan through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Poole earned his bachelor’s degree in health and physical education from Lock Haven University. He holds a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from LHU and in educational administration from Duquesne University. He earned his doctorate degree in educational leadership from Immaculata University, and holds his superintendent, principal, and health and physical education certificates.

A native of Northampton, England, he played soccer for Leicester City and came to the U.S. to attend LHU in 1995. He and his wife, Teresa, also a local educator, live in Williamsport. Their children, Connor and Emma, attend WASD schools.

In the community, Poole volunteers as a soccer coach with his children’s teams at Balls Mills Soccer and North Union Soccer clubs. An avid runner, he’s ran both the Boston Marathon twice and London Marathon once.

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