Kim Fitzgerald

The efforts of a Knoch Middle School assistant principal have been recognized through a state award.

Kim Fitzgerald was named 2021 Assistant Principal of the Year by the Pennsylvania Principals Association.

The district announced the honor at its Wednesday meeting, where the school board and Superintendent David Foley said Fitzgerald will be entered into the nationwide contest.

“I'm sure Kim will be off to the White House soon and spreading the good news from Knoch because she's going to win that too,” Foley said.

The state award was based on each candidate's focus on personal excellence, collaborative leadership, curriculum, instruction and assessment, and personalization within the school environment.

“This is a well-deserved honor as she has made a significant impact on the students, staff and parents of the middle school,” Foley said. “Her positive demeanor and commitment to providing leadership and support make her a terrific recipient of this year's Pennsylvania Assistant Principal of the Year award.”

Fitzgerald, who was nominated by her principal, Tyler Vargo, will be honored in October at the association's conference in State College, Pa.

Her name also will be submitted to the National Association of Secondary School Principals for consideration in the national assistant principal contest.

Fitzgerald said at Wednesday's school board meeting that working at South Butler has been a great experience.

“I'm where I want to be and I'm going to keep doing what I do,” she said.

Donna Eakin, school board president, recalled that Fitzgerald was an immediate standout during the interview process in 2018, when the district was searching for a middle school assistant principal.

Before joining the South Butler team, Fitzgerald was the principal and chief academic officer at Urban Pathways in Pittsburgh, where she previously worked as director of curriculum and assessment. Before that, Fitzgerald was the literacy and assessment coordinator and reading teacher for the I.B. Diploma School at Lehigh Valley Academy.

She received her bachelor's degree from Penn State University, her principal certification from California University of Pennsylvania and her master's degree from Lehigh University.

Foley and the school board members congratulated Fitzgerald on Wednesday for the statewide award.

“This is a wonderful honor for the entire South Butler County School District,” Foley said.