North Penn Names New Hatfield Elementary Principal

HATFIELD, PA — A new principal has been named at Hatfield Elementary School.

Rita Whalen, most recently a Pennbrook Middle School assistant principal and a seven year veteran of the North Penn School School District, will take the helm.

"She joined NPSD in 2016 as an Emotional Support Case Manager with Pennbrook Middle School, developing an Emotional Support Program for the school," the school district said in an announcement. "Whalen then became a Special Education Case Manager for Northbridge School, working with students, staff, and families to develop individualized educational plans (IEPs) to define student learning objectives and strategies."

Whalen was named to the post during a school board action meeting on Jan. 19.

She has spent 21 years in the education field, earning a Bachelor of Science in elementary education and a Master of Science in special education from Holy Family University in Philadelphia.