Willow Dale Elementary Updates!
July 25th, 2025
Willow Dale Administrative Updates - Part Two
August 7, 2025
Dear Willow Dale Students, Staff and Families,
I am writing with a second update regarding our administrative team at Willow Dale Elementary. In addition to our new principal, Ms. Katie Gill, I am pleased to announce that Mr. Chris Oswald will be coming on board as our assistant principal.
INTRODUCTION OF NEW ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
Mr. Oswald comes to us from the School District of Philadelphia, where he has worked as a teacher, a teacher leader, and an assistant principal over his 18 year career. Additionally, Mr. Oswald and his family reside here in the Centennial School District, where he is active in our local community as a coach. With a student-centered mindset and a demonstrated commitment to creating a positive school environment, we are thrilled to welcome him to our district! To learn more about Mr. Oswald, please click here to read his welcome letter to the community.
TIMELINE & TRANSITION
As I mentioned in my last note, when candidates are hired from outside of Centennial, there is a period of time where they are held in place by their previous district until a proper plan of succession can occur. In this instance, Mr. Oswald will join the Willow Dale team with a tentative date of October 6, 2025. In the interim, we have added to our transition plan to ensure a smooth opening of school for our students, staff and families.
As mentioned in the last communication, Dr. Devitt has been serving as interim principal at Willow Dale, and will remain in that role through September 11, 2025, at which time Ms. Gill will be in place. While we await Mr. Oswald’s arrival, we are fortunate to welcome Ms. Donna McCormick-Miller as our interim assistant principal. Ms. McCormick-Miller is a well-respected and experienced elementary principal, having served in that capacity for 27 years in the Pennsbury School District prior to retiring in 2023, and brings both energy and knowledge of what is necessary for a successful school opening. Ms. McCormick will join us on August 11th and remain in place through early October. Together, she and Dr. Devitt will provide a smooth transition for our students, staff, and families. To learn more about Ms. McCormick-Miller, please click here to read her welcome letter.
Thank you for your patience and support through the process of building our new administrative team at Willow Dale. Our interview team worked diligently to select two outstanding candidates who will continue to make Willow Dale a wonderful place for our students to learn and grow. Please join me in welcoming our new folks to these roles, and we look forward to seeing everyone back in school in a few weeks!
Sincerely,
Abram M. Lucabaugh, Ed.D.
Superintendent