New Principal Named At Bristol Township Elementary School

BRISTOL TOWNSHIP, PA —An assistant principal in the Bristol Township School District has gotten a promotion.

Dawn Martesi, assistant principal at Harry S. Truman High School, has been named the new principal of Mill Creek Elementary School. She will replace Sharon Vitella, who is retiring in August.

Her appointment was approved by the school board at its June 28 meeting.

Martesi’s selection marks the conclusion of a process that began in May when Vitella announced her retirement, school officials said.

School officials said the principal position opening was advertised widely and more than 30 applications were received.

A principal search committee consisting of community stakeholders with expertise and relevance interviewed the top 10 candidates, with two finalists being recommended for final interviews with the superintendent’s district cabinet.

Martesi earned a bachelor’s degree in education from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, a master’s degree in educational leadership from Holy Family University, and another master's in reading instruction/literacy from Cabrini University.

She brings extensive educational and administrative experience to her new position.

For the past three years, Martesi has served as assistant principal at Harry S. Truman High School.

Prior to that, Martesi was an instructional coach with the Bristol Township School District for seven years, after a decade of serving as a district ELA Special Education teacher.

She was also the head field hockey coach for five years.

Possessing a strong background in instructional leadership, professional development, and curriculum development and design, Martesi has been very involved in many effective endeavors during her long career in the district, school officials said in a press release.

That work includes the district SWPBIS program, the Truman “Think Tank” initiative, and work with Digital Promise and the Innovative Maker Lab.

Martesi was a member of the Bucks County Leadership Development Fellowship Cohort and was honored with the Inspiring Women ESPN Verizon Innovative Learning Award.

“The search stakeholders were very impressed with Mrs. Martesi’s candidacy,” stated Amy Coleman, the district's director of curriculum and instruction. “She is an experienced and accomplished administrator with an established legacy of promoting student achievement. We believe she will be great for the students of Mill Creek and a beneficial instructional leader for the school.”

“I offer my congratulations to Martesi,” Superintendent Michael Nitti said. “We look forward to a great opening of a new school year under her leadership.”

Martesi’s official start date will be Aug. 15, but school officials said a transition plan will be implemented with her and departing Principal Vitella.

The Mill Creek school community will have the opportunity to meet Martesi at a “Meet the Principal” event at Mill Creek in mid-to-late August, school officials said.