A long-time Lancaster educator has been named the new interim principal of Harrisburg High School, John Harris Campus, it was announced on Tuesday night.
During the school district’s monthly school board and business meeting, Acting Superintendent Chris Celmer announced the selection of Dr. Jay Vance Butterfield (pictured). Until recently, Butterfield had served as director of secondary education for the Lancaster school district, a post he held for 11 years.
“The school district of Lancaster is similar to Harrisburg school district, and I am confident that we will be able to make great strides together,” Butterfield said, in a statement.
The district is currently conducting a nationwide search for a permanent principal, with Butterfield expected to serve in the position until a replacement is named.
In his Lancaster post, he supervised all secondary principals and oversaw secondary instructional programs, as well as curricular revision, adoption and implementation. He also has served as principal of Wheatland Middle School, focus principal of JP McCaskey Campus, principal of McCaskey East High School, principal of Central York High School and assistant principal of Hempfield High School.
At Harrisburg High, Butterfield replaces Jaimie Foster, who was appointed to the post in June after Dr. Janet Samuels was named receiver of the 6,700-student school district. Foster, whose departure was announced last week, was the third person to serve as school principal over the past year.
“I look forward to standing shoulder to shoulder with this community to help make John Harris Campus a center of learning and a beacon of hope for the future of Harrisburg,” Butterfield said.
He said that he expects a “safe and orderly environment, where students are in class, learning, each and every period of each school day.”
