Radnor SD Approves New Superintendent

After months of searching, the Radnor Township School District has a new superintendent of schools in Kenneth Batchelor as the the district's school board voted to appoint Batchelor as the the superintendent at Tuesday's meeting.

Batchelor, who serves as the Assistant to the Superintendent for the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District at the moment, brings 22 years of public education experience to Radnor, according to the district.

Batchelor's education career has taken him to Overbrook High School in Philadelphia; East Forsyth High School in Winston Salem, N.C.; and Unionville High School in Kennett Square where he taught various subjects at all three schools.

While teaching at Unionville, he coordinated and supervised the high school gifted program, coached lacrosse and basketball, and served as a club advisor to student activities, the district said.

He was promoted to Unionville's Assistant Principal position in 2002, and left in 2005 to serve as the Principal of Penncrest High School in the Rose Tree Media School District for two years before returning in 2007 to Unionville-Chadds Ford as the Assistant to the Superintendent, the district said.

Batchelor holds a Bachelors Degree in Political Science from Villanova University and received his Masters in Education from the University of Pennsylvania, the district said. He is a Doctoral Candidate in Educational Leadership at Widener University.

School Board President Susan Michaelson said in a statement that among the roughly 40 candidate, Batchelor was consistently at the top of the list during the extensive search to fill Dr. Michael Kelly's position after he stepped down in August. The district appointed Dr. Anthony Costello as acting superintendent for the interim months.

"His deep knowledge base, interpersonal skills, and professional accomplishments as an educational leader make him a superb fit for Radnor," Michaelson said. "I want to thank my colleagues on the Board for their dedicated service throughout the process; Tom Templeton, our search consultant, for his excellent professional guidance; and the staff and community for their input and patience. Finally, I know I speak for the entire Board in expressing our deepest thanks to interim superintendent Dr. Tony Costello. He continues to lead our district with distinction during this challenging interim period."

“Radnor is truly an outstanding school district and I am honored and humbled to serve this school community,” Batchelor said in a statement. “I am excited to partner with the School Board, the staff and the community to provide the students of Radnor with a tremendous educational experience.”

Batchelor is expected to begin his time as superintendent on Jan. 30 and is signing on to a five year contract with a $220,000 salary, according to the district. He will begin serving the district as a consultant for 15 days at a per diem rate of $842.91, not to exceed $12,643.65, before he becomes the superintendent, according to the district.

Batchelor would be under the consulting contract from Nov. 29 to Jan. 27. during which he will also begin the transition process from Costello to his time as superintendent.

Image via Radnor Township School District