Hall Of Fame Coach Fills Bensalem Township School Board Vacancy

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA —Bensalem High School's most winningest head coach now has a new title to add to his Hall of Fame resume: School Board Director.

At its reorganization meeting Monday night, the school district filled the vacancy of its late board member Heather Snyder by appointing Sheldon D. Per to fill her remaining term.

Snyder passed away in mid-October. The former township councilwoman had served on the school board since 2019.

Per was selected over former school board member Stephanie Gonzalez Ferrandez, said Susan Phy, the school district's community relations director.

The school board also appointed Eric Price to another term as board president and Kim Rivera as vice president during its reorganization meeting.

Per, a 51-year township resident, has served the school district and its students since 1969. His three children graduated from the school district and he has eight grandchildren attending district schools. Per said that his wife and a child also work for the school district.

Per is a five-time class advisor and former social studies teacher at Bensalem High School for 30 years. He also served as director of athletics and extracurricular activities.

But Per's biggest contributions to the school district may be on the basketball court.

He is the winningest head coach in Bensalem High School history with 312 victories.

Per has coached boys and girls basketball for junior varsity and varsity as either an assistant coach, volunteer or head coach. He is currently a volunteer assistant coach for the girls varsity team.

He was inducted into the Bensalem High School Hall of Fame in May 2009 and the Bucks County Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.