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BELLEFONTE -- The Bellefonte Area School District has its new superintendent -- and it's a familiar face.
The Bellefonte school board voted to remove the interim tag from Tammie Burnaford and make her the district's permanent superintendent during Tuesday night's board meeting. The vote was unanimous. Burnaford received a three-year contract from the district. According to the contract, Burnaford will be paid $142,011 for the first year of the contract, which covers March 9, 2021 to March 8, 2022.
According to the terms of the contract, "increases to Burnaford's salary shall be made in accordance with the terms and conditions of the then in force Act 93 Agreement."
Board president Jon Guizar was the first to congratulate Burnaford following the vote.
"As we've all seen through emails and conversations with people in the public, your communication and your ability to get us through the crisis that we faced was exemplary. Thank you," Guizar said.
Burnaford thanked the board for the appointment.
"I'm looking forward to the years ahead," Burnaford said.
Board member Jeff Steiner believes that Burnaford is an excellent hire.
"(She's) the right person at the right time. She has been extraordinary," Steiner said.
Board member Donna Smith said that Burnaford showed strong leadership over the past several months.
"Largely due to her honest and clear communication, Mrs. Burnaford was able to help our district survive an incredibly challenging year," Smith said. "She proved to be the right person for the job, and we are grateful that she has agreed to stay on in a more permanent capacity."
Burnaford was given the interim tag following the retirement of Dr. Michelle Saylor in 2020. She took over in the midst of the pandemic, starting on July 1, 2020.
A native of Centre County, Burnaford graduated from Bald Eagle Area High School in 1980 and then attended Penn State University to major in elementary education, where she earned her bachelor's degree in 1985. Burnaford went on to teach elementary school students in Bald Eagle Area School District for 12 years. At Bald Eagle Area, she taught fifth grade at Clarence Elementary School and taught fourth and sixth grades at Howard Elementary School, where she served as head teacher.
She earned her principal's certification from Penn State and was named principal at Wingate Elementary before taking the position as principal at Pleasant Gap Elementary. In 2006, she earned her master's degree in educational leadership from Penn State University. She was named interim assistant superintendent in 2016 before the district dropped the interim tag from her title.
As assistant superintendent, it was Burnaford's job to work closely with curriculum and instruction for the district. She was also in charge of induction for new teachers at Bellefonte. Burnaford is also heavily involved with the district's bocce ball team, which caters to special needs students.
Of her 33 years employed in education, 18 have been in the Bellefonte Area School District.
The Bellefonte school board will meet again at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 23. The meeting is closed to the public, but is accessible through the district's website and via C-NET.