Superintendent Foley passes torch to Grantz at Knoch
JEFFERSON TWP — At his last school board meeting as superintendent of Knoch School District, David Foley was showered with praise from other school officials. Yet, when his turn to speak came, he focused on other district employees retiring at the end of this school year.
He highlighted the careers of Greg Hajek, the director of special services, and Kim Fitzgerald, principal of the intermediate elementary school, before remarking on his own career.
Foley, who has been the district’s superintendent since 2018, is retiring at the end of the month. Announcing the decision in October, the transition between Foley and incoming superintendent Melissa Grantz marks the end of an educational career deeply rooted in the region.
“Dr. Foley has left such an incredible mark on this district,” Grantz, the current assistant superintendent, said. “He was hired as superintendent of the then-South Butler School District in 2018. From day one, he brought leadership, integrity and an unwavering commitment to students and staff and our community.”
Foley’s educational background is almost entirely rooted in Western Pennsylvania. A graduate of Westminster College, he received his master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Gannon University, his principal’s certification from Slippery Rock University and his doctoral degree in administrative and policy studies from the University of Pittsburgh.
He spent time as a social studies teacher at Seneca Valley before becoming an assistant principal at Pine-Richland and principal at Grove City. Before arriving at Knoch, he served as the superintendent of West Middlesex Area School District in Lawrence County for five years.
“Over the last eight years, Dave has guided this district through some of the most difficult and transformational times imaginable, most notably through COVID,” Grantz said. “Through countless virtual meetings, staff updates, community forums and impossible decisions, Dr. Foley remained focused on one thing: the students and their safety.”
Foley’s tenure as superintendent has seen success, adversity and transformation for the district.
Shortly after he started the job, Knoch’s teachers union briefly went on strike, following years of labor disputes. Foley also guided the district through the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. His tenure also saw the district transition its identity, branding and footprint, renaming itself from South Butler School District to Knoch, and completing a $39 million renovation of the high school.
School officials on Wednesday night credited Foley with transparency, “strengthening” Knoch’s identity and guiding the high school renovation project, “which some thought would never happen,” Grantz joked.
Officials also credited Foley as being consistently focused on improving overall curriculum. Grantz said he was instrumental in developing Knoch’s full-day kindergarten program and played a big part in bringing Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to the community, getting books into the hands of young children.
“When Dr. Foley was first hired, people wrote letters of recommendation describing him as exceptionally professional, sincere, outcome focused, someone with work ethic and integrity, organized, honest, a person with a deep devotion to what is best for students,” Grantz said. “Every one of those descriptions still defines Dr. Foley perfectly.”
When reflecting on his tenure at Knoch, Foley focused on others, particularly the families and students.
“I just want to thank everybody,” Foley said. “This is my 32nd year of education and the last eight years … have been the best of my educational career. As frustrated as I have been with different things, I have been more pleased with the people I’ve met here, the friendships I’ve created.”
“It hasn’t been easy. There have been difficult things, COVID being the worst of times. But you saw this great community and a lot of the things that have gone on. I can’t say enough about the kids of this district,” Foley added.
He also thanked Donna Eakin, the district’s board president, along with other board members and the community for giving him grace on mistakes made on the job and helping him grow into the position.
“Parents have given me a lot of grace on a number of things. I’ve made a ton of mistakes,” Foley said. A ton of them. And I apologize for all of them. But I’m so thankful that I didn’t make a mistake by passing on this opportunity at Knoch.”
Foley said he is pleased the board promoted Grantz as his replacement. Grantz was hired by the district as a teacher in 2008. She became its assistant high school principal in 2017 and assistant superintendent in 2023.
“Dr. Grantz is an exceptional school leader. I think if you sat with every one of the administrative team and had a personal conversation, they’d tell you she’s absolutely, positively the right person for this position,” Foley said. “For as proud as I am of things I’ve been a part of, I know Melissa’s going to pick it up and take it further than I could.”
