Pennridge To Appoint Montco Administrator Superintendent Of Schools

PENNRIDGE, PA — The Pennridge School Board at its meeting on Monday night is expected to approve an employment agreement with Angelo Berrios to serve as the district's next superintendent of schools.

Berrios, a resident of Bedminster, is the principal at Abington Senior High School, a role he has held since 2013. He has successfully co-led various district-level initiatives focused on new construction, career pathways, and scheduling. Prior to becoming principal, he was an assistant principal and a social studies teacher in Abington.

Throughout his tenure in Abington, Berrios facilitated collaboration and unity among stakeholders, resulting in a student-centered environment rooted in academic excellence.

“The entire board is thrilled to welcome Mr. Berrios to the Pennridge family," said school board president David Reiss. "He brings with him a track-record of success, a dedication to students and staff, and a bright vision for the future. As we look to this new school year and beyond, the board knows that we have found in Mr. Berrios an excellent leader for our community.”

Berrios said he is resolute in his commitment to success, adding that his vision for the future is one where educational excellence and community partnership converge seamlessly, fostering an environment where all stakeholders thrive.

“I am beyond honored to have the opportunity to join the Pennridge School District family. I plan to work collaboratively with our dedicated educators, staff, parents, and community members to ensure that every student receives an exceptional education that prepares them for a successful future," he said. "I believe, together, we will foster a culture of innovation, inclusivity, and academic excellence, empowering our students to excel and thrive in a rapidly changing world.

"Education is the cornerstone of our society," continued Berrios. "As such, I aspire to build upon the Pennridge School District’s successes and forge a path toward even more remarkable achievements.”

Before entering the field of education, Berrios served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1991 to 1995 as an Infantryman/Machine Gunner (0331). He completed two deployments with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit Special Operations Capable (22 MEUSOC), participating in operations Provide Promise, Deny Flight, and Sharp Guard.

While serving the nation, Berrios learned to embody the core values of the Marine Corps - honor, courage, and commitment. His foundation in the United States Marine Corps cultivated essential qualities of discipline, teamwork, and leadership, shaping his subsequent roles in education and community engagement.

After being honorably discharged from the Marine Corps, Berrios earned a bachelor's degree in secondary social studies education from the Pennsylvania State University and later achieved a Master's degree in educational leadership from Saint Joseph’s University. He is enrolled in the doctoral program in educational leadership at Delaware Valley University.

The Pennridge School Board invites the community to attend a forum with Berrios on Wednesday, September 6 beginning at 7 p.m. at Pennridge High School, 1228 N. 5th Street, Perkasie 18944. To allow maximum community participation, the event will be live-streamed, recorded, and made available online. The link to view the event will be available through the district.

In addition to introductory remarks from Berrios, the forum will include a question-and-answer session facilitated by Dr. Mark Hoffman, executive director of the Bucks Intermediate Unit.

The Pennridge School Board welcomes input from district stakeholders on which themes should be covered in the questions presented to Berrios. Community members are invited to submit up to two questions for consideration through the following survey: https://bciu.formstack.com/forms/pennridgecommunityforum.

Due to the number of anticipated questions, not every question will be asked during the Community Forum. Instead, submitted questions will be organized by theme. Similar questions will be consolidated by these common themes to allow for Berrios to address the maximum number of topics during this Community Forum.

The format for the evening does not provide an opportunity for questions or comments from the audience during the forum itself. Instead, all questions must be submitted in advance using the link above. Berrios will receive a copy of all submitted questions. The Board has chosen this format to ensure that the maximum number of questions can be asked by the moderator in the time allotted. Questions may be submitted up until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, September 3.

The school board began the search process in July 2023, engaging with the Bucks County Intermediate Unit (Bucks IU) to serve as its search consultant.

The Bucks IU, on behalf of the board, conducted a community survey from July 7 through 16 to identify the community’s opinions and priorities. Nearly 700 parents, guardians, taxpayers, students, staff, and other community members responded to the survey, offering feedback on the ideal characteristics and attributes of the future superintendent. The survey also captured what the community believes to be the district’s priorities for the immediate and long-term future. The survey results were shared with the community on the district website and through district communication channels.

As the search consultant, the Bucks IU facilitated a comprehensive search process, actively recruiting qualified candidates and advertising the position in local, regional, state, and national publications. The position was advertised from July 7 through 23. Twenty candidates applied for the position. The Board thoroughly reviewed all 20 applications and selected 11 applicants to move forward to a first round of interviews. The candidates hailed from four states.

Following the initial interviews, the board invited six applicants back for a second, increasingly rigorous round of interviews. In addition to answering questions, candidates completed writing exercises and prepared presentations relevant to district priorities. The board invited three applicants to return for a third round of interviews, resulting in unanimous agreement among all nine school directors to offer Angelo Berrios the position of Superintendent of Schools.