Wissahickon School District Superintendent James Crisfield plans to retire at the end of the academic year, a school district spokesperson said Tuesday, Oct. 1.
With “decidedly mixed emotions,” Crisfield announced his intentions on Monday, Sept. 30, in an online letter to Wissahickon School District students and families. He will step down from his leadership post in June.
“Being Wissahickon’s superintendent for the past decade has been the highlight of my professional career,” Crisfield said in the Sept. 30 letter. “Other than my teaching days in a classroom full of high school students, nothing has been as rewarding and fulfilling as being part of Wiss Nation for the past 10 years.”
The Wissahickon School Board followed the announcement with an endorsement of Assistant Superintendent Mwenyewe Dawan for the superintendent position.
“We are thrilled to have an exceptional, highly acclaimed educational leader like Dr. Dawan ready to step in and keep our district moving forward” said Wissahickon School Board President Amy Ginsburg in a statement, “and we are grateful to Dr. Crisfield for his years of leadership and service to this community and to the students of Wiss Nation.”
School board members are expected to vote on Dawan’s promotion next month at the Nov. 4 meeting, according to a school district spokesperson. The new position will take effect July 1, 2025.
In the meantime, Crisfield stressed plans to aid in the transition process.
“I will make it my business over the coming months to ensure your next superintendent of schools has everything in place to succeed, because Wiss Nation deserves nothing less than a smooth leadership transition and a long-term commitment to excellence,” Crisfield said.
