School Director Recognized By State For Service In Bensalem Township

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA —A Bensalem Township school board member is now getting state recognition.

School Director Heather D. Nicholas was recently presented with a certificate adding her to the Pennsylvania School Boards Association's “Honor Roll of School Board Service” for her 16 years with the school district.

School officials said Nicholas has a strong belief in the value of public schools and local control of public education for the benefit of all students. They said she "gives unselfishly of her time and talents" for the betterment of Bensalem schools.

"She has been a tireless advocate for the children of Bensalem," Schools Superintendent Samuel Lee said. "Her 16 years of service on the Bensalem Township School Board has seen the introduction of full-day kindergarten, a massive renovation of our High School combined with the expansion of program options including district-wide STEM, a career pathways model, One to One technology for students, sound and effective district governance during the pandemic, and the district’s return to budgetary structural balance. All of this in the most challenging times for public education."

Nicholas has served as a PSBA representative to the Federal Relations Network.

She has also been involved with the following committees: The Bensalem Education Foundation, where she assisted in its founding, Charter School; Instructional Affairs; Business; Technology; Facilities; Bucks County Technical High School; and the Just for the Kids Education Foundation.

Nicholas said she wants to ensure the district "keeps doing what is right for our community, as we cannot have a strong community without strong schools."

School Board President Eric Price praised Nicholas for her efforts.

"To know Heather is to have a first-hand account of dedication, hard work, and positive values," Price said. "All things necessary for keeping Bensalem a great place to live and raise a family, and she has proven year after year to be a key player in that strive."

Price recognized several of Nicholas's achievements, including that she was part of the negotiating team that helped reach an agreement on the teachers’ contract during an early-bird negotiation.

Nicholas has served as school board president, vice president, and chairperson of the Instructional Affairs Committee.

"Heather has been a great mentor, friend, and colleague to me during my tenure on the board and I look forward to continuing to learn from her invaluable," said Price, who was named board president during Monday's reorganization meeting.

"She is an incredible educator herself and understands what makes a school system a winning ecosystem. For dedicating 16 years to this School District, our children, the township, and our community, all volunteer might I add, we are extremely grateful," Price said.