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About Gerald L. Zahorchak, D.Ed.
Superintendent of Schools
Allentown School District
After graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree from St. Francis
College, Dr. Zahorchak earned a Master of Education degree from
Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) in 1988. In 1994, he
received a doctoral degree in Education Administration from the
Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Zahorchak also earned two
honorary Doctor of Laws degrees: one from the University of
Philadelphia School of Osteopathic Medicine in 2008; and the other a
year later from IUP, an honor that has been bestowed on only fifty
others in the university’s history.
Dr. Zahorchak’s career in education includes teaching and leadership
experience at both the elementary and secondary education levels.
He has served in the North Star, Shanksville–Stonycreek, and
finally, Greater Johnstown school districts. In Greater Johnstown,
Dr. Zahorchak held a series of increasingly responsible roles,
ultimately taking the position of district superintendent.
In 2003, Dr. Zahorchak was named deputy secretary for Elementary and
Secondary Education for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In this
role, he launched the nationally recognized Project 720 and
Classrooms for the Future. These high school reform efforts
have been highlighted in publications such as Education Week and
recognized by the Council of Chief State School Officers.
Two years later, Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell chose Dr.
Zahorchak to serve as the state’s Secretary of Education, a position
he held through May 7, 2010. In this role, he was responsible for
the education of nearly two million school children across the
Commonwealth. As Pennsylvania’s Chief State School Officer, he
administered more than $9 billion annually to lead and serve the
Commonwealth’s educational community. He served as the CEO of the
state Board of Education, which sets and directs policy for
elementary and secondary education, career and technical education,
and postsecondary/higher education for Pennsylvania. Dr. Zahorchak
was named superintendent of the Allentown School District, effective
July 1, 2010.
Dr. Zahorchak is a national education leader focused on common core
standards and implementing standards-based education to improve
student achievement. He co-chaired the Next Generation Learners
Committee of the Council of Chief State School Officers, creating a
national framework for building systems of comprehensive support for
all students. Under his direction, Pennsylvania has transformed
schools, enabling more than three quarters of all students to
demonstrate proficiency in reading and mathematics as compared to
slightly more than half in 2002. During his tenure, he has presided
over unparalleled school funding increases to equalize the adequacy
gap and provide funding to those with the greatest need.
A hallmark of Dr. Zahorchak’s distinguished career is the
collaborative design work among teachers, administrators and
educational associations, which he built across the Commonwealth as
he facilitated the development of the Standards Aligned System
(SAS), combining research and best practices to ensure student
achievement. With the launch of an educational portal to support the
Standards Aligned System, unprecedented resources are now available
to Pennsylvania educators. SAS implementation has skyrocketed in
just the few short months since the portal release in December 2009
and is expected to make a dramatic impact on twenty-first century
teaching and learning in Pennsylvania.
Recognizing that his vision of success for all children would not be
met without focusing on quality teaching and effective leadership,
Dr. Zahorchak worked collaboratively with school administrators to
establish the Pennsylvania Inspired Leadership (PIL) Program. PIL is
a standards-based statewide continuing professional education
program that is focused on developing the knowledge and skills that
school leaders need to improve student achievement.
As a result of these reforms, student achievement has been rising
rapidly: the 2010 Education Trust Report found Pennsylvania to be
one of the top nine states to make gains in all groups from
2003-2009 and the Center for Educational Policy found Pennsylvania
to be the only state to significantly boost student achievement in
reading and math from 2003 through 2009.
Dr. Zahorchak has been widely published, is a frequent speaker at
national educational conferences, symposia and other forums, and is
a frequent guest on Pennsylvania public television and radio
stations. Dr. Zahorchak’s dedication to local community goes beyond
the classroom. He is the former deputy mayor of the City of
Johnstown; a past eight-year member of Johnstown’s City Council; and
a past member of the Greater Johnstown School Board. He actively
serves in leading roles on many national and state boards committed
to enhancing public and higher education.
Upon being appointed superintendent of schools by the Allentown
School District, Pennsylvania's third largest urban education
system, Dr. Zahorchak said, "Allentown School District is the
quintessential 'beating the odds' district. They know what to do;
they're doing it. They continually face the challenges related to
inadequate funds from the state and, nevertheless, are making
enormous strides to ensure that every child is reaching his or her
full potential. The Allentown community is second to none in the
world—the business community is sincerely devoted to school
improvement; many grant makers and philanthropic leaders contribute
in well aligned ways; and the many agencies are led by bright people
who work well together. The teachers, staff and parents are the
most valued by the community and me; they are the ones who take care
of ensuring the success of our students. This is a wonderfully
diverse community, with a proud sense of its history and culture,
and I am blessed and eager to work alongside of many who will
positively change the lives and fortunes of thousands of students."
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