Assistant Principal Named For Bensalem Township Middle School

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA —The Robert K. Shafer Middle School has a new assistant principal.

Joseph Crane has been appointed to replace Aqueelah Ellzy, now the assistant principal at Samuel K. Faust Elementary School. The appointment was approved by the Bensalem Township Board of School Directors at last Wednesday's meeting.

Crane has served as a classroom educator in Bensalem for four years, teaching reading and business technology at the Shafer Middle School.

He previously taught 5th grade at John Marshall Elementary School in Philadelphia.

In 2020 and 2021, he supervised the implementation of the 21st Century Summer Camp in Bensalem, providing students with opportunities in math and reading enrichment, sports, dance, performing arts and art.

In 2019, Crane served as the head football and baseball coach at Shafer. Additionally, he was Shafer’s boys basketball head coach in 2020, 2021 a,nd 2022 and the girls' basketball head coach in 2022.

Crane earned a bachelor's degree in psychology and master’s degree in middle-level education from Chestnut Hill College. He received his principal certificate from Gannon University.

“I am excited to continue to support the Shafer Community in my new role as Assistant Principal," Crane said. "I will also continue to support the district's mission of ensuring a first class education for the whole child that challenges and supports each student to discover a passion for learning while designing and achieving a personal vision of success.”