November 15, 2013

TO:                 News Editor/News Director

 CONTACT:    Sheri L. Thompson, Director of Communications

Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals
122 Valley Road
P.O. Box 39
Summerdale, PA 17093
(717) 732-4999 (Phone)
(717) 732-4890 (Fax)
sherit@paprincipals.org

RELEASE:     UPON RECEIPT

Dr. William T. Ziegler Named President of State Principals’ Association

(Harrisburg, Pa.) — William T. Ziegler, Ed.D., principal of Pottsgrove High School in the Pottsgrove School District, was recently named President of the Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals (PA Principals Association), headquartered in Summerdale, Pa.

PA Principals Association’s membership of approximately 3,800 is comprised of elementary, middle level and secondary school principals, assistant principals and other educational leaders and is affiliated with the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

Dr. Ziegler assumed his new position on PA Principals Association’s Board of Directors following the association’s annual business meeting held October 29, 2013 during its 21^st annual state conference held in State College.

“I’m honored with the opportunity to serve principals in Pennsylvania. I firmly believe that principals are the most important leaders in our nation. More than ever, principals are faced with increasing demands, less resources, and increasingly complex challenges to resolve. As a result, PA Principals Association is an association committed to equipping principals with the tools to be leaders who strengthen student achievement at all levels and lead through the changing educational landscape,” said Dr. Ziegler. 

Dr. Ziegler began his education career in 1994 as a social studies teacher at Pottstown High School in the Pottstown School District. From 1998-2002, he served as the assistant principal of Pottstown High School in the Pottstown School District, and from 2002-2007, he served as the assistant principal of Pottsgrove High School in the Pottsgrove School District. He was the principal of Pottsgrove Middle School from 2007-2013 before assuming the principalship of Pottsgrove High School.

Dr. Ziegler has been a member of PA Principals Association/NASSP for 12 years. Most recently, he served as treasurer on the PA Principals Association Board of Directors (2010-2012). He currently acts as the chairperson of the PA Principals Association Mini-Grant Selection Committee and he also served on the board as the East III Secondary Regional Representative. In addition, he served on the NASSP Publications Advisory Council from 2007-2009 and presented at the NASSP National Conference in 2003
and 2005.

Dr. Ziegler is active in his community as well. He was president of the Montgomery County Principals Association from 2008-2010, and currently serves on the board of Trinity Church and is the media director for Christian Educators Association International. Additionally, he volunteers his time to teach GED classes to parents in the Pottsgrove community.

Dr. Ziegler has been an adjunct professor in graduate education at Temple University since 2007 and has served as a representative for NASSP on the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Congressional Panel for the E-RATE Program. In addition, he published the article, “Developing Teacher Leadership Capacity,” in NASSP’s Principal Leadership magazine in April 2012. His articles have been published in Principal Leadership multiple times.

According to Dr. Ziegler, “PA Principals Association has a rich history of serving principals through instructional leadership, legal updates, Act 93 agreement consultation, professional liability insurance, strong professional development opportunities and a partnership with NAESP and NASSP. PA Principals Association is a voice for principals and education on state and federal levels in regards to educational legislation.”

Dr. Ziegler received a bachelor of science degree in education from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, a master’s in education from Gratz College and his Ed.D. in educational leadership from Temple University. He received his Principal’s Certificate from The Pennsylvania State University.  

Dr. Ziegler resides in Boyertown, Pa., with his wife, Kim, and their two children.

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