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WINGATE -- Bald Eagle Area School District is still searching for a new superintendent following the recent departure of Curtis Whitesel.
Whitesel offered his official resignation during the January board meeting but agreed to retain his position until April 1, when he would be stepping into the superintendent's position for the Hollidaysburg Area School District.
Whitesel came to BEA in the fall of 2022 after holding the superintendent's position at the Homer-Center School District since 2019. During his educational career, Whitesel was the high school principal in the Mount Union Area School District.
"I have absolutely nothing but love for the BEA School District. My time here has been some of the most rewarding times of my life. I truly feel I have been part of something special. I am leaving to advance my career and to get closer to my home. I will always cherish BEA and will forever have Eagle Pride running through my veins," said Whitesel in an email to The Express just days before his departure.
As the Hollidaysburg superintendent, Whitesel is able to fulfill two of his goals.
"I get an opportunity to lead a larger school district which has always been a goal of mine, and Hollidaysburg is also 24 miles closer to my home than my current commute to BEA," Whitesel said.
Whitesel and his wife, Emily, both grew up in Mount Union and make their home there. They have six daughters, with the four youngest currently attending Mount Union High School.
BEA Board Member Jason Penland said that while at BEA, "Mr. Whitesel has accomplished a lot, and continued to go full steam until his departure. Mr. Whitesel had been working on a renovation plan for the Special Education Department, and at the same time, the district was adding more space to the fitness center due to increased demand across the sports management and physical education classes. The Forestry Department is also doing amazing with both demand for the program and its outcomes. Curt spearheaded this program in the design phase and continued to make it a priority even as his departure drew closer. His collaborative skills have been an asset."
Before his departure from BEA in early April, Whitesel had a debriefing with the school board president and wrote a synopsis on where things are and where he saw them going forward.
BEA School Board has hired School Assist Consulting for their superintendent search with the hope that a new candidate will be selected and hired to start on July 1. The same firm was responsible for bringing Whitesel to BEA, and Penland is confident that the success the district enjoys academically and athletically, as well as the good financial position the district is in, will attract top tier candidates from which a new superintendent will be selected.