Central Bucks names Great Valley assistant superintendent as finalist to lead district

The Central Bucks School District has named an assistant superintendent in the Great Valley School District as the finalist to be its next superintendent.

Joanna Wexler will participate in a public forum April 8, ahead of a school board vote on her appointment April 14, district officials announced Tuesday.

Heather Reynolds, board president of Central Bucks, said that Wexler’s “extensive experience, particularly in special education and human resources, comes at a critical time for our district.“

“We have full confidence in her ability to strengthen these areas while building on our strong academic foundation,” Reynolds said in a statement.

Central Bucks last year fired its former superintendent, Steven Yanni, over his handling of reports of abuse of children in a special-education classroom at Jamison Elementary School.

Yanni, who appealed the firing, now leads Northwood Academy Charter School in Philadelphia.

The district also fired its director of pupil services, the Jamison Elementary principal, a teacher, and an educational assistant.

Yanni had led the district for less than a year before he was placed on leave. His predecessor, Abram Lucabaugh, led the district for a little more than two years before resigning in the wake of a hotly contested November 2023 election that flipped control of the board from Republican to Democratic.

Wexler, who has been assistant superintendent in Great Valley since 2020, oversees recruitment, evaluation, and contract negotiations for the Chester County district, according to Central Bucks officials. They said Wexler has been involved in Great Valley’s grade realignment — a project Central Bucks is also undertaking.

Wexler previously spent six years as Great Valley’s director of special education and student services. A graduate of Ursinus College with a degree in psychology, Wexler, who also has a master of education degree and a Ph.D. from Temple University, began working in education in 1997. She has worked as a school psychologist and student services leader in districts including Souderton and Lower Merion.

Central Bucks chose Wexler after a search process led by the Bucks County Intermediate Unit that began in November and attracted 26 candidates, according to district officials. They said the board interviewed 15 candidates before narrowing the field to three.

In a statement, Wexler said it was “an incredible honor” to be the finalist for the Central Bucks job.

“Pending my formal appointment, I look forward to partnering with students, teachers, staff, families, and the broader community to build on the district’s strengths and listen with intention as we work to ensure every student has the support they need to thrive and succeed,” Wexler said.