Dr. Kristopher Vancas, assistant superintendent to Bellefonte Area School District, has made public his plans for retirement. Dr. Vancas has served the Bellefonte community for years, and his devoted leadership has impacted the lives of kids and parents alike.
Dr. Vancas originally began his Bellefonte career in December of 2007, immediately earning the respect and admiration of Bellefonte through his caring and welcoming nature.
“Dr. Vancas’s approach as an educator was always caring, kind, and student-focused. He believed that all students could do amazing things, which was at the heart of his philosophies,” Dr. Jennifer Brown, principal of virtual learning at Bellefonte said.
Although Dr. Vancas quickly built a reputation for his cheerful personality, he was also acknowledged for his extremely effective, and personalized approach to education.
“Dr. Vancas is second-to-none. He is one of the kindest and most personable leaders I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with. It was always evident that he cared about kids and truly values building strong relationships with the community and staff,” BASD instructional coach, Jackie Wynkoop said.
Although Dr. Vancas spent the majority of his Bellefonte career as principal of Benner Elementary, he also served as assistant superintendent. Furthermore, it is because of his outstanding ability to promote education, as well as his warm nature that he was nationally distinguished for his role as principal in 2018.
“The needs of students, staff, and community members were always my priority. I am happy that I was always able to cultivate positive relationships with all stakeholders while also accomplishing district goals,” Dr. Vancas said.
Thankfully, Dr. Vancas has said multiple times that he plans on staying involved in the Bellefonte community, whether through sporting or social events.
“I plan to stay involved and active in the Bellefonte community. This is my home and I love the community and all that it has to offer.”
Although Bellefonte may have changed throughout the years, it is clear that Dr. Vancas has remained a shining example of who we all should strive to be.
