New Principal at Chatham Park Elementary

HAVERTOWN – The School District of Haverford Township is proud to announce Sara Christianson as the new Principal at Chatham Park Elementary.  Sara will begin in July following the retirement of long-time principal Dan Marsella. Sara comes to the School District from Interboro High School where she is the acting High School Principal.

District Superintendent Dr. William Keilbaugh said, “Sara comes to us with a tremendous amount of experience at all education levels. She brings a depth of understanding in classroom instruction and educational management.  I am confident that she will carry on the great tradition of long standing Principals at Chatham Park Elementary.

Sara said, “The legacy of stable leadership at Chatham Park is tremendous.  I look forward to building on the tradition of impressive student achievement, teacher collaboration and leadership and parental involvement, so that working together, we can cultivate a creative and safe environment for each child to achieve their maximum personal success.”

Having grown up in Central Pennsylvania, Sara graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Psychology.  She entered the Teach for Philadelphia program and found her life’s work.  Sara spent the next six years in West Philadelphia as part of the transformation of Morton McMichael Elementary School.  In 2006, she was hired by the Interboro School District where she has been Assistant Principal at the High School for seven years and is currently Acting Principal. She has a Master’s degree in Elementary Education from St. Joseph’s University and a Master’s Degree from Gwynedd-Mercy College’s Educational Leadership Program which included principal certification.  

Chatham Park Elementary School has 566 students in K- 5^th grade.  The school has only had 3 principals since 1955.  The current Principal Dan Marsella is retiring after 23 years at Chatham Park. 

A resident of Delaware County, Sara is an avid 76ers fan, and enjoys spending time with her two year old daughter, Chloe, in the garden.