The Board of School Directors of the Abington School District approved the hiring of Ms. Fatima Rogers as Principal of Copper Beech Elementary School, following a recommendation by Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Jeffrey Fecher, at the Feb. 5, 2019, School Board meeting. She will lead the District’s largest K-12 elementary school full-time beginning on Monday, April 8, 2019.

Ms. Rogers, who has more than 20 years of experience, joins Abington School District from The School District of Philadelphia, where she served as a principal for the past 10 years, most recently as Principal of Charles W. Henry Elementary School in West Mount Airy. Previously, she worked for the William Penn School District.

Before taking the reins in April, Ms. Rogers will attend an introductory meeting with staff tomorrow, and will be introduced to students during the school day on Monday, March 4, 2019. That evening, a special “Meet the New Principal” event for Copper Beech families will be held at the school, starting at 6:00 p.m. Throughout the duration of the time leading up to April 8, 2019, Ms. Rogers will work on a transition plan and schedule with outgoing principal, Dr. Stephanie Viola, who was appointed late last year as Assistant Director of Elementary Teaching and Learning. The 2018-2019 school year marked Dr. Viola’s sixth year leading Copper Beech, and her eighth year in the District.

“We were pleased to make this recommendation to the Board of School Directors,” Dr. Fecher said. “Ms. Rogers is an experienced principal, and we look forward to having her join our Abington School District community in leading the students and staff of Copper Beech Elementary School.”

Ms. Rogers earned a Bachelor of Arts in early childhood education from Temple University, a Master of Arts in education administration from Cheyney University, and is currently a doctoral candidate at Saint Joseph’s University. She was a recipient of the 2018 Lindback Distinguished Principal Award—which recognizes principals who have made significant leadership and humanitarian contributions to their schools and communities—and was also named a Neubauer Fellow in Educational Leadership for the Academy of School Leaders.

For more information about Copper Beech Elementary School, visit https://www.abington.k12.pa.us/copper.