HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — Harrisburg School District is ready to kick off a new school year with a new superintendent.

The plan is to approve Dr. Benjamin Henry as the district’s next superintendent during the Tuesday school board meeting, district officials stated in a news release. He will officially begin his four-year term on Nov. 1.

“The Harrisburg School District is eager to welcome Dr. Ben Henry as its next Superintendent of Schools. Dr. Henry has the full support of the elected School Board,” Dr. Lori Suski, Court Appointed Receiver, who will ultimately vote to approve the contract for the next superintendent at tomorrow’s School Board/Receiver General Business Meeting said in a statement. “The Board and I have worked collaboratively throughout the summer to select the most well-qualified candidate to be the next leader of the Harrisburg SD.”

Meanwhile, Acting Superintendent Dr. Marcia Stokes will continue to serve until Dr. Henry takes over.

The search for the new superintendent began in June, and the district looked at 21 applications for the job. Seven candidates were interviewed and Dr. Henry was chosen out of three finalists.

It was a long search for the right person for the job, as the district made sure to do the following:

• A community survey
• Leadership profile development
• Statewide, regional and national marketing and recruitment campaign
• Search committee credential file screening
• Three progressive rounds of interviews
• Background and reference checks
• Finalist interviews with stakeholder participants representing the community, administration, faculty and support staff.

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For the past four years, Dr. Henry has served as the Regional Assistant Superintendent of Polk County Schools, where he oversees 29 schools. He has a bachelor’s degree in special education from Alabama State University, a master’s degree in computer information systems, and a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership.

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