Following the appointment of Dr. Jeffrey S. Fecher as Superintendent of Schools, the Board of School Directors of the Abington School District voted unanimously at its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018, to appoint Dr. James A. Melchor as Assistant Superintendent.
Dr. Melchor has served as Assistant Director of Curriculum for the District since 2009, after previously serving as an elementary principal and middle school assistant principal in the Owen J. Roberts School District in Pottstown, PA, and a social studies and science teacher at the secondary level in the Delaware Valley School District in Milford, PA.
“Dr. Melchor has been a tremendous asset to the Abington School District since his arrival, most recently in his work to lead the secondary programming for reconfigured grade spans and the corresponding Superintendent’s Committee,” said Dr. Fecher, who is currently serving as the Assistant Superintendent through Nov. 9, 2018. “I look forward to having his expertise in the Superintendent’s Office as I take on a new role.”
Dr. Melchor received his Doctorate of Education in educational leadership from the University of Pennsylvania, where he completed his dissertation on “Faculty perceptions of, and participation in, a small school district’s large-scale change”. Dr. Melchor’s dissertation studied the reconfiguration of a district undergoing similar grade span shifts as the result of a renovation and building project as Abington School District’s current reconfiguration and project.
Dr. Melchor also has Master of Science degrees in educational leadership and educational technology from Wilkes University, and in secondary education from the University of Pennsylvania. He received his bachelor’s degrees from the University of Pennsylvania as well.
“This is truly a significant time for Abington School District, and I am excited to advance in my role within the District in a way that will allow me to continue having a positive impact on the futures of our students as we prepare them for college and careers,” Dr. Melchor said. “I look forward to using my past elementary and secondary level experience to help shape what’s ahead for Abington School District.”
Prior to voting on Tuesday, the Board of School Directors also made Dr. Melchor’s contract available, highlights of which are as follows:
- Appointed for a five-year term, effective November 10, 2018, through June 30, 2023.
- Salary effective November 10, 2018, will be $178,000, with annual raises of no less than 2%, contingent upon satisfactory performance.
- Dr. Melchor required to achieve objective performance standards to be published on District website.
- Fringe benefits to be the same as other administrative staff.
- Dr. Melchor agrees not to request a sabbatical leave except for restoration of health purposes.