Bethlehem Area School District Superintendent Jack Silva has announced that he will retire at the end of the school year, completing a three-year tenure as district leader and 40 total years in public education.
“Serving the Bethlehem Area School District has been the greatest honor of my professional life,” Silva said in a news release. “Each day, I have had the privilege of working alongside extraordinary educators, staff, families, and community partners who believe deeply in our students. I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished together and remain confident in the district’s future as we work toward a strong finish to this school year.”
The school board expects to share additional information about its search for a new superintendent in the coming weeks. Silva will serve through June 30.
“Dr. Silva has led the Bethlehem Area School District with integrity, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to students,” school board President Michael Faccinetto said in the release. “Under his leadership, the district has strengthened academic programs, deepened community partnerships, and maintained sound fiscal stewardship. The Board is deeply grateful for his service and will move forward with a deliberate and transparent process to identify the next Superintendent to continue this important work. Dr. Silva’s professionalism and dedication exemplify the values of this district, and we thank him for four decades of service to public education.”
Under Silva’s leadership, the district has been out ahead of its regional peers in taking action on several widely debated issues, including the implementation of districtwide cellphone restrictions and the withholding of charter school payments during the state budget impasse.