Since its inception in 2017, 229 school leaders have completed the Bucks County Intermediate Unit’s (Bucks IU’s) Leadership Development Fellowship (LDF) Program.
“The Bucks IU Leadership Development Fellowship is an opportunity for the talented educators in Bucks County to learn from experts in the field of leadership and from each other in order to serve as leaders in our school systems,” said Dr. Bridget O’Connell, Superintendent of the Palisades School District. “The Palisades fellows that have participated over the past eight years have emerged as successful leaders in their departments and buildings to enhance the educational experiences for our students. I am appreciative of the role the Bucks IU has played in developing our future leaders in Bucks County.”
The idea for a leadership program began in 2016 when a subcommittee of Bucks County school district superintendents met with the Bucks IU’s executive team to develop a professional development workshop series to support and recognize aspiring and emerging leaders. Equally important, the LDF was designed to help Bucks County’s school systems build a bench of leadership-ready personnel for anticipated administrative openings.
School district superintendents, career and technical center (CTC) directors, and the Bucks IU executive director nominate representatives to participate in a cohort that meets once-per-month from December through May each year. Session topics are varied and include building a positive school culture and community; mindful leadership and emotional intelligence; leveraging data and evidence in decision-making; and organizational and instructional leadership.
“The Bucks IU Leadership Development Fellowship gave me a look at how effective school systems are built and led,” commented program alumni, Mr. Jon Craig, Principal of Harry S. Truman High School of the Bristol Township School District. “Learning from superintendents and leaders across districts, combined with the professional connections formed, made it one of the most impactful experiences in my development as a school leader.”
Eight cohorts of leaders have already completed the program. The ninth cohort, which began in December 2025, includes 37 participants from Bucks County schools.
“In the ever-changing landscape of public education (e.g., virtual instruction, cyber schools, AI, test scores, etc.), we need leaders with a critical eye and a vision to share to take our classrooms into what is to come,” stated Carolyn Staffieri, Director of Student Services and Transportation in the Quakertown Community School District. “The Leadership Development Fellowship is that opportunity to create those leaders! It gives me great pride to be a graduate of the first cohort. My experience cultivated a passion for leadership, and I am grateful for the learning and connections that I carry to this day!”