Bellefonte is narrowing down finalists for its next superintendent. Here are the candidates

The search for Bellefonte Area School District’s next superintendent is narrowing down, with three finalists introduced during a public meeting Wednesday night.

In October, Superintendent Tammie Burnaford announced she would not be seeking an extension when her contract expires in June. Wednesday’s meeting was led by the DiRocco Consulting Company, which won a $19,000 contract to lead to the search for Burnaford’s replacement.

Seventeen people applied for the position, 15 candidates were shared with the school board and five progressed to initial interviews, leaving three in the final round.

While community members were invited to Wednesday’s meeting, Connie Kindler, a member of the consulting team, asked those in attendance to not share finalists’ names outside of the meeting in attempt to not alert their current jobs.

In handouts given to those in attendance, finalists were identified only by their initials.

The Centre Daily Times is identifying the finalists because they attended and introduced themselves at a public meeting and are public employees vying for a publicly funded position.

Melissa Melewsky, media law counsel for Pennsylvania News Media Association, of which the CDT is a member, said the CDT was within its First Amendment rights to release the names, which were obtained legally during the meeting.

“From a legal perspective, the (Right To Know Law) requires public access to the successful candidate’s information, it does not require public access to the information for those who are not hired although the agency can choose to release it,” Melewsky wrote in an email to the CDT.

Although advertised as a “Community Public Meet and Greet” session on the district’s Facebook page, members of the public — about 20 were in attendance — were not able to ask the finalists questions.

Neither Kindler nor district administrators would provide information on when the board would vote on a final candidate.

In an email to the CDT, board president Jon Guizar said the board had reviewed all feedback from the meeting and would continue with selections and negotiations. He did not provide a timeline for when the board would approve a contract.

“The next public communication on the matter will be when there is a contract recommended for approval at a public board meeting,” Guizar wrote.

Below is information about the three finalists, who introduced themselves and gave short overviews of their careers and what they believed they could bring to the position.

Kris Vancas

Vancas is an Osceola Mills native who is assistant superintendent within the Bellefonte Area School District. The Bloomsburg University graduate was chosen as a nationally distinguished principal in 2018 and received a Governor’s Award for Excellence in Academics in 2013 while at Benner Elementary.

Vancas, who has helped write two of the districts comprehensive plans, said he hopes to expand the work he’s currently doing at the district if hired as superintendent.

“We have a lot of good initiatives and plans in place right now and I feel like we’re moving in the right direction,” Vancas said. “And for a career educator like me, this is that next step in my career I hope that I can continue to see some of these programs, some of this progress that we’re making.”

Roy Rakszawski

Rakszawski is the only out-of-state finalist for the position, currently working as a superintendent for Edgewater Park School District in New Jersey. Rakszawski has a background in both administration and music education, with 13 years as a music teacher before becoming a principal for several years at districts in New Jersey. In 2013, he became superintendent of Edgewater Park.

During the meeting, Rakszawski spoke about the importance of addressing mental health issues and concerns within education since COVID-19.

“I’ve heard about this issue from all around us as well,” he said. “What I see the most is emotional dysregulation in the primary grades.”

Janilyn Elias

Elias has been the superintendent of Troy Area School District in Bradford County since 2022. The lifelong educator has been a director of special education at Northeastern School District, director of pupil services and chief academic officer at Chambersburg Area School District.

For several years, she stepped away from education to run a cafe with her husband, something she said gives her valuable insight into what employers are looking for and what skills graduates need.

Elias said she believes one of the biggest challenges facing education is the scrutiny and constant perception teachers face.

“You hear enough about teachers and the things in the news,” Elias said. “Why would anyone who’s leaving school want to go do this?

“I think the worst thing right now in education is the perception of what’s happening, and then the stories that get told, and then the fear that that causes that.”