Longtime Council Rock Principals Appointed To Central Administration Posts

NEWTOWN — Two longtime Council Rock principals will be joining central administration along with a new hire from outside the district.

During a special meeting on June 23, the school board unanimously appointed Goodnoe Elementary School Principal Nicole Crawford as the district’s new director of elementary education and Council Rock High School South Principal Al Funk as its director of secondary education.

This year Funk completed his 27th year in education. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Villanova University, a Master’s in Education from Beaver College (now Arcadia) and he completed his principal certificate program at the Pennsylvania State University.

Prior to coming to Council Rock, Funk was an emotional support teacher at Central Bucks East High School. He started at Council Rock in 2002 as an assistant principal at Council Rock High School North. After five years at North, he assumed the principalship at Council Rock South. He has been the principal at South for the past 15 academic years.

“For the last 15 years it has been an honor and a privilege to be the principal of Council Rock South High School,” said Funk. “And during that time I have been very fortunate to have established relationships with some outstanding stakeholders, community members, families, teachers, staff and most importantly, students. And because of that it is a bit bittersweet to be moving from 2 Rock Way to 30 North Chancellor Street.

“I am thrilled by the opportunity that stands before me,” he continued. “And I thank the school board a ha and confidence in my ability to execute the responsibilities of this position. Anytime you start a new position it’s a time of anxiety and one of the things I’m going to try to do to combat my anxiety as I move into this new role is to keep in the forefront our mantra of students first always. If I’m able to do that in every engagement I have with stakeholders everything will turn out okay.”

Funk was joined at the meeting by his wife, Terry; three of his sons, Matthew, Albert and Michael; and his mother-in-law, Anne Clark. Unable to attend were his other two other sons, Andrew and Tommy.

Crawford has been in education for more than 25 years. She earned her bachelor’s of science degree in elementary education from West Chester University and a Master’s of Arts degree in educational leadership from Rowan University.

Before becoming an administrator, Crawford was a teacher in the Cherry Hill School District. During that time she was a professional consultant for surrounding school districts in the South Jersey area.

Crawford has served as an elementary principal in Council Rock for 16 years. She was the principal at Wrightstown Elementary from 2006 to 2009 and has been the principal at Goodnoe Elementary for the past 13 years.

“I appreciate and thank you for the opportunity to stand before you this evening,” said Crawford. “As Goodnoe Elementary School’s principal for the past 13 years I have enjoyed partnering with families and staff to make an outstanding school experience for our students. I feel fortunate to be in this district and now to serve in a new role and I’m looking forward to the opportunity. I am also looking forward to our continued work and focus on students first always.”

Crawford was joined at the meeting by her husband, Kevin, and her sons, Kevin and Matthew.

“I have known and worked with Al and Nicole as trusted colleagues and have been their direct supervisor. Between them they have almost 40 years experience in Council Rock,” said Sanko. “I trust them both and know they put students first always.”

In addition, the board appointed Dr. Kyle Kanter as special education supervisor replacing Becky O'Hara who is retiring. Kanter comes to Council Rock from the Pottsgrove School District where he was supervisor of special education.

Prior to joining Pottsgrove, Kanter served as director of special education and student services at the MAST Charter School, the director of special education and student services in the Norristown Area School District and as supervisor of special education with the Delaware County
Intermediate Unit.

He is a graduate of Temple University and earned his doctoral degree from Arcadia University.

“Kyle comes with glowing recommendations from his Pottsgrove colleagues, one of whom said Kyle loves getting into the classroom and getting to know the kids, teachers and families,” said Sanko.

“These three administrators represent excellence in educational administration,” said Sanko. “They are evidence of Council Rock’s new students first always orientation, each possessing a demonstrated ability to lead, unify and, most importantly, take care of students. Council Rock is fortunate to have these professionals on our team.”

Sanko added, “I believe these individuals will add dimension to our already skilled district leadership team, and simultaneously enrich the delivery of quality instruction and support services for students and families throughout the district.

“Mrs. Crawford, Mr. Funk, and Dr. Kanter bring their individual histories of excellence in education to our administrative team, and they each consistently demonstrate a deep dedication to students," he said.