New Bethel Park superintendent James Walsh planning for the future
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James Walsh believes his more than 30-year journey in education has well-prepared him for the challenge of being Bethel Park School District superintendent.
“I see Bethel Park as one of the academic and educational leaders in Western Pennsylvania,” he said. “It would be the capstone of my career to be able lead the district to new and better places, to continue to polish the diamond so to speak. I felt I had walked quite a journey professionally, and was ready for a big, successful academically rich and diverse community like Bethel Park. That’s why I pursued it.”
Walsh, 53, of Upper St. Clair, was hired in December and formally started his new job in mid-March. The board approved a five-year contract with a $175,000 starting salary.
School board president Pam Dobos said there were more than a dozen candidates vying for the position, and Walsh was selected out of four finalists.
“We all were very impressed with his collaborative comments,” Dobos said. We are beginning our strategic plan, and he had previous experience with strategic planning. His references from Burgettstown were outstanding. Everyone spoke very highly of him.
“I think he’s been very positive — he’s reached out to not only each school in our district and visited each school, he’s reached out to community leaders and talked to them. He’s trying to learn everything he possibly can about the district.”
Walsh served as Burgettstown Area School District’s superintendent for the past six years and led it through the various stages of covid pandemic restrictions. Its students are in school four days a week and virtual one day, just like Bethel Park.
He said it was a challenging experience, and the Bethel Park administrative team has helped make the transition very smooth.
“We have a more robust team to support me,” Walsh said. “In Burgettstown, it was me and me. Here in Bethel Park, we have a more supportive team that’s involved in some of these more difficult decisions and communicating.”
Bethel Park is nearly four times as big as Burgettstown with about 4,000 students compared to just over 1,000 youths in kindergarten through 12th grade.
Walsh took over for interim Superintendent Joseph Dimperio, who was hired last April to replace Joseph Pasquerilla. Pasquerilla left Bethel Park to become top administrator at Ambridge School District.
“He was incredibly helpful,” Walsh said of Dimperio. “We spent a fair amount of time during my first week picking his brain and mind-melding … He kept me in the loop on board action and issues that were coming before the board and the administration, which would really give me a chance to walk in here with eyes wide open and ready to take on what was pressing at the time. (He was) such a knowledgeable administrator and knowledgeable superintendent.”
Dobos also thanked Dimperio for his service during the superintendent search and a very troubling time for the district.
“We hired him and covid hit, and he took us through that,” Dobos said. “He had so much experience. He was very wise and knowledgeable and led us through that with such calm.”
Walsh grew up in Mt. Lebanon and worked for that school district as a curriculum supervisor and principal from 2008-2015.
He was a director of curriculum and student achievement for Aliquippa School District from 2006-08.
He served as a field associate for Nova Southern University in Davie, Fla., and continues to work as an adjunct professor at Point Park University School of Education.
Walsh said he is still acclimating himself with Bethel Park, and is in the process of forming a committee for some strategic planning.
Walsh has a bachelor’s degree in education from Duquesne University, a masters from the University of Maryland and a doctorate from Nova Southeastern University in North Miami Beach.
Walsh said he plans to have some type of a meet-and-greet event in late spring or early summer.
More information about the superintendent is available on the district’s website.