Dr. Benjamin Henry. Photo courtesy of the Harrisburg School District.
The Harrisburg School District has selected a new top official.
Dr. Benjamin Henry will soon serve as the new superintendent of schools, following a summer-long search, the district announced on Monday evening.
Henry fills the post left vacant by previous superintendent Eric Turman, who resigned and took a job as the superintendent of Central Dauphin School District. Following his resignation, receiver Dr. Lori Suski appointed Dr. Marcia Stokes, the district’s chief financial officer, as acting superintendent.
According to a press release from the district, Suski is slated to approve Henry’s appointment at a board meeting on Tuesday.
If approved, Henry’s four-year term would begin on Nov. 1, with Stokes continuing in the role in the meantime. The district has set Henry’s salary at $199,500.
Henry brings with him over two decades of experience in public schools, according to the district. He served as the regional assistant superintendent of Polk County Schools in Florida for the past four years, overseeing 29 schools. Before that, he held jobs as a special education teacher, a middle school math teacher and a principal. Henry was also appointed by the governor to serve on the state’s Education Ethics Committee.
Henry holds a bachelor’s degree in special education from Alabama State University, a master’s degree in computer information systems and a doctoral degree in educational leadership.
“The Harrisburg School District is eager to welcome Dr. Ben Henry as its next superintendent of schools. Dr. Henry has the full support of the elected school board,” Suski said.
Suski also said that Henry presents as a “systems thinker with a passion for urban education, a strong communicator and relationship builder.” His experience in education will also be helpful this year as the district enters the last year under the current three-year cycle of state-mandated receivership.
The district partnered with the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) on the hiring search, which included community surveys, recruitment, interviewing and additional processes. The search committee reviewed 21 applications, interviewed seven candidates and selected Henry from among three finalists, according to the district.
For more information, visit the Harrisburg School District’s website.
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