Publisher’s note: Dr. Scanlon will be honored as Greater West Chester Chamber’s Citizen of the Year at the organization’s annual Banquet on February 1st. Sponsor the event or purchase tickets here.

By Leigh Green

As Superintendent of the West Chester Area School District, Jim Scanlon takes a microscope to the big picture. His scrupulous attention to programs and policies continually betters the education of the nearly 12,000 students under his watch. In his pursuit of excellence, Scanlon joins hands with the community around him, where he draws on support, opportunities and invaluable input.

For the phenomenal success of the students and staff under his direction, the rich local partnerships he’s established, and the broad social impact of his many initiatives, the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce has selected Dr. James Scanlon as the 2017 Outstanding Citizen of the Year.

This award, now in its 70th year, honors an individual with a record of outstanding civic service and engagement. It will be presented at the Chamber’s Annual Banquet on Feb. 1, 2018 at the Desmond Hotel, Malvern.

“Jim epitomizes the values we look for in this recognition,” says Mark Yoder, President & CEO of the Chamber. “His leadership and service to the thousands of families in the West Chester Area School District, as well as his commitment to the businesses and organizations in and around West Chester is nothing short of exemplary. We are thrilled to honor him as an outstanding citizen in our community.”

Scanlon’s career in education spans 35 years. At first an economics major at the University of Pittsburgh, he changed course his junior year after volunteering as a Life Skills instructor. Noticing flaws in programs for students with disabilities, he felt a compulsion to improve educational policy himself. Switching his major to education, Scanlon set to work.

“My principles are simple,” he says. “Do the right thing, be an active listener, make decisions in the best interest of students, and constantly look for ways to improve the system.”

Scanlon’s father served as Secretary of Education in Pennsylvania under Governor Dick Thornburgh. “He spent years working as a teacher and administrator, and later in his career, he worked at educational consulting firms. I guess it was in my blood,” Scanlon says.

Scanlon spent the first part of his own career in the Neshaminy and Central Bucks School Districts. He then became Superintendent of the Quakertown Area School District, followed by three years as Superintendent of the Brandywine School District before moving back to Pennsylvania.

Under his direction since 2009, the WCASD has flourished. Recognized by Newsweek, US News & World Report and the US Department of Education, WCASD sees 93% of graduates go on to college. ACT scores are at all-time high, more students are enrolling in AP courses, and the district’s SAT scores are consistently above the national average.

Scanlon’s standout initiatives include the implementation of a full-day kindergarten program and blended learning classes and the establishment of Equity Teams with the intent of embracing diverse cultures and closing achievement gaps. He also created a Community Budget Task Force, which uncovered $8 million in savings and $1 million in revenue. He’s led the district in establishing an online educational program and professional learning communities for teachers.

Scanlon also recently made headlines for leading the charge against excessive state-mandated standardized testing, which was causing undue stress for students and stifling teacher pedagogy.

Scanlon lives in West Chester with his wife Beth and their two young sons. He’s deeply grateful to live and work in a community he cherishes. “I am very proud to be part of a caring community. It’s a wonderful place to raise my own children, and the people in this community serve as a great model for them,” he says. He’s also a proud member of the West Chester Rotary Club, which he says does “so much good work in the community.”

Part of Scanlon’s focus as an educator has been strengthening the ties between students and their community. He says, “Ultimately, everything I do must be in the best interest of teaching children how to be caring, creative citizens.”

To that end, Scanlon worked to establish the West Chester Area Education Foundation, a  non-profit organization that funds programs that allow real-world experiences for students, like internships and job-shadowing. Scanlon says donations to the foundation, which total tens of thousands of dollars every year, come primarily from local companies and organizations. “Our business community is very collaborative with the school district, and we are so fortunate to have wonderful support from so many of our local businesses,” he says.

Scanlon is quick to credit his many achievements to the assistance of those close to him. He says his wife Beth, whom he calls his “best friend and partner,” lends her expertise in communications and “serves as a great sounding board” for the district’s communication strategies. He also praises her work as a mother raising “polite, caring young people.”

Additionally, Scanlon says he relies upon the support of the “incredible” WCASD staff in doing his job. “Our teachers really are so caring, dedicated, and dynamic,” he says. “I love visiting classrooms and seeing the daily work they do with our students. They pour their hearts and souls into our kids.”

Upon hearing he’d been chosen as the Chamber’s Citizen of the Year, Scanlon says, “I was very humbled and honored. There are so many people living and working in the West Chester community who are deserving of recognition. I could not do my job without the support and compassion of our community.”

Join us for an evening of community support as we celebrate Jim Scanlon, Citizen of the Year. Purchase tickets for the Annual Banquet here.