Mr. Stephen Rodriguez, 
Superintendent of Schools

Contact Information  610-970-6600

EDUCATION:

I graduated from Reading Area Community College with an Associate’s degree, and then immediately moved on to Millersville University as a Special Education Major and graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Education Degree. I continued my studies at Penn State University where I attained a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction, and completed my Principal certification program. I continued my graduate work at St. Joseph’s University, earning my “Letter of Eligibility” for the Superintendency.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

In the Spring of 1997

 I began my educational career as a substitute teacher in the Reading school district. I was contracted in August of 1997 and worked in Reading High School for three years. In the fall of 2000, I secured a Special Education position at Governor Mifflin High School, where I also taught at the middle school level. Teaching Learning Support, Emotional Support, and pioneering in regular education Co-Teaching, I honed my skills as an educator. 

In 2003 

I became the Associate Principal at Governor Mifflin High School, and soon moved on to Hamburg Area High School as the Assistant and then Acting Principal. In August 2005, I became Principal of Pottstown High School. During my tenure there, we watched math and reading scores rise significantly, saw the graduation rate rise from 75% to 89%, and utilized the restorative practices concepts to shape a positive school culture. Some would say that the highlight of my time at PHS is when I dressed up in a blue tux and performed in a “gangnum style” dance!

In 2013

I accepted a new position as the Director of Human Resources, moving to the Pottstown School District Administration Building. My focus became to recruit and hire the best employees for all departments, while also supporting students in a variety of ways, including: policy management, student and professional discipline, and personnel/human resources management.

In 2016 

The board of directors appointed me the Acting Superintendent to serve in the role for one year. I am dedicated to moving the district forward and it has been my great pleasure to be a part of the Pottstown Team!

In 2017 

The Board of School Directors approved me as the Superintendent of Schools. After a rigorous interview process, I am honored and humbled to be selected to serve the school district and look forward to continuing the District mission.

Education has never faced more challenges than it does today. In order to insure that we provide the best possible educational opportunities for our students, we must be committed to strong teamwork and cooperation.  

We have outstanding students and staff and for this reason, I have every confidence that we will meet these challenges and continue to give our community reason to say “Proud to be from Pottstown.”

2024 Black History Introduction Video

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Mrs. Maureen Oakley
Business Manager

Contact Information: 610-970-6611

After graduating from St. Joseph High School in Hammonton, NJ in 2002, Mrs. Oakley earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Studies from Stockton University. She began her career as a Procurement Specialist in New Jersey. In 2008 Mrs. Oakley re-located to Pennsylvania and continued her career as a financial analyst in various industries including manufacturing and telecommunications. Mrs. Oakley's school business profession began in 2012 at Methacton School District in Montgomery County and continued onto Neshaminy School District in Langhorne Bucks County, PA. 

In 2015, Mrs. Oakley was hired as the Assistant Business Administrator and is currently serving as the Business Administrator and Board Secretary. Her roles include maintaining oversight of many critical support operations such as Transportation, Building and Grounds, Cafeteria Operations, Grant Accounting, Payroll, Accounts Payable, Auditing, Procurement, Taxes, Investments and Financing, Risk Assessment, Right To Know requests, Budgeting and Cost Analysis along with a variety of other non-hands-on educational matters. 

While the primary objective is to run the financial side of the district Mrs. Oakley strives to be an effective leader and ensure that all students achieve to their highest potential. One of the many things she enjoys the most about being the Business Administrator and the Board Secretary is managing the daily operations of the district to ensure the success of reaching the targeted goals and facilitating projects. The educational field continues to pose a barrier in providing an adequate education for every child. The disparity in per pupil spending, Pennsylvania Charter School law, Basic Education Funding Formula, and a limited tax base provide additional challenges in Pottstown to create an equitable environment for student achievement. 

Outside of work, Mrs. Oakley enjoys activities such as golf and volunteering. Mrs. Oakley is an active member of PASBO and serves on the DVASBO scholarship committee, SEPaST Board of Trustees and SDSC Board of Directors. 

After graduating from Pottsgrove High School in 1992, I went on to pursue a degree in Nutrition and Biology from West Chester University. After my freshman year I decided to change my major to education and graduated from West Chester University in the Fall of 1996 with a degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis on reading and literacy. Upon graduating, I worked for the Devereux Foundation before accepting a position at Pottstown School District as the Student Service Coordinator/Disciplinarian at Pottstown Middle School. After a year at Pottstown School District, I had achieved my goal and was granted a teaching position as a 6th Grade Social Studies, Language Arts and Reading teacher at Pottstown Middle School. While teaching at Pottstown Middle School for 16 years. I served as a department chair and coached many sports at both the middle and high school level. I received my Master's Degree in Curriculum Education and Technology from Temple University and my Administrative certification from Alvernia University. In 2013, I was granted the position of 5th and 6th Grade Principal at Pottstown Middle School. I served as Principal for 4 years before accepting the position of Principal of Pottsgrove Middle School in 2017. In 2021, I became the Director of Human Resources at Pottstown School District.

I have a vested interest in the school community that has given so much to myself and my family . I am a strong advocate for the public-school education system and the great opportunities that the public-school system provides for our youth and our faculty. My service to the children and faculty in our community I hold in the highest regard; I am privileged to help shape their future and to foster an environment where our students and staff can achieve their goals.

I come from a long family of educators; my mother and father who have had the greatest influence on my life, both stressed the value education. My father was a special education teacher for 39 years and was a member of the Pottsgrove School District School Board; my mother was a pre-school teacher and is presently a certified public accountant and operates her own business in Pottstown. My brother is a middle school principal in Dayton, Ohio and my sister also has an education degree and currently works in the legal department for Domestic Relations, in Montgomery County.

In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family. I have two daughters; my oldest graduated from Pottstown School District and is a senior in college majoring in Biology, Pre-med and my youngest attends 8th Grade at Pottstown Middle School. Going to the New Jersey shore, fishing and spending time on the beach is one of my favorite things. I enjoy fitness and am an avid Philadelphia Sports and Duke Basketball fan.

Education is my second career. I began teaching kindergarten and third grade after working in the pharmaceutical industry. I returned to graduate school to study special education after my 4th child was diagnosed with autism.

My experiences with her education and therapies are what motivated me to become an autistic support teacher. In the district, I have taught at both Franklin and Pottstown High School. I am excited to be in my new role at the middle school.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my 5 children, walking my dog, traveling, and going to concerts.

I attended Wesley College in Dover, Delaware and earned a degree in Elementary Education. After working at a private school for five years, I went to Penn State Great Valley/World Campus and obtained certificates in special education and special education supervision. Some years later, I attended Cabrini University where I majored in Educational Leadership and Administration. Pottstown has always held a special place in my heart and I’m very happy to be rejoining the community after seven years.

During my time away from Pottstown, I served as a Supervisor of Special Education and an Assistant Director of Services for two school districts in Bucks County. I had the opportunity to lead some of the following programs in those districts: Gifted Education, English Language Learners, Special Education, Extended School Year, Specialized Curricula,18-21 year old programming, curriculum pilot programs, PASA, and community based instruction. In my over 20 years experience as a special education teacher and administrator, I have had the opportunity to work closely with paraprofessionals, teachers, community members, administrators, and other stakeholders to develop compliant and equitable programs.

My career has focused on assisting teams with providing equitable access to education and resources for all students. This career focus fits the district’s mission and vision in terms of “Preparing every student by name for success at all levels.”

Kristin graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics. Immediately after graduation she was hired as Food Service Supervisor and Nutritionist in a skilled nursing facility in suburbs of Pittsburgh. Originally from Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, Kristin moved to Reading and managed the Reading Maternal and Family Health Services Office. 

She counseled women and children teaching them healthy lifestyles while maintaining well-balanced diets. Taking time off to start a family, Kristin then returned to work with her husband assisting in managing his durable medical business.

Kristin is dedicated to ensuring the students of the district are provided with nutritious, good-tasting meals. Kristin is married to Donald Kozik and has three children, Jackson, Nicholas, and Gabriella. Kristin’s hobbies include gardening, cooking, running, and enjoying time with her family.

My love for working with children with special needs began as a teenager volunteering at Special Olympics. I graduated from West Chester University with a Bachelor's degree in Special Education and began my education career teaching young students with Autism and spearheading family support programs. I then spent several years teaching middle school special education students at Owen J. Roberts School District.

While continuing my teaching career, I pursued my interests and studies in school psychology. I graduated from Immaculata University with a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology and an Educational Specialist certification in School Psychology. After several years as Camp Hill School District’s school psychologist, I became the school psychologist at Barth Elementary School, a beloved position I held for 10 years. During this time, I thoroughly enjoyed becoming immersed in the Barth family and community, where “teamwork makes the dream work”, and in helping support our families in the Pottstown community.

In 2022, I completed my Special Education Supervisor certification and transitioned to the Supervisor of Special Education role at Pottstown School District. I look forward to continuing to support Pottstown’s students and families.

After graduating from Pottsgrove High School, I attended West Chester University. I graduated with a degree in Elementary Education and a double minor in mathematics and special education. Soon after, I started teaching at Pottstown Middle School. As a sixth grade math, reading, and language arts teacher, I had the opportunity to teach children the subjects I enjoy most. During that time, I coached football, track and field, and cross country at the high school and middle school levels.

I received my Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Lehigh University. Soon after, I was named principal of Barth Elementary School, a position I held for 10 1/2 years. During that time, I had the opportunity to learn from some of the most talented and hardworking staff members. 

In the fall of 2021, I moved into the role as Director of Curriculum and Educational Programs for the Pottstown School District.

I take pride in my roots in Pottstown. Both of my parents graduated from our high school, and I have numerous relatives who went to Pottstown. My wife is a Pottstown High School graduate and was a standout athlete and homecoming queen. We were married at the United Methodist Church on High Street; the same church in which, coincidentally, both sets of our parents were married.

After graduating from high school, I attended Alvernia University and pursued a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with a dual certificate in Special Education. I quickly knew my passion in education lay within the special education realm and focused my energy on procuring a position as a special education teacher. I have been afforded opportunities to teach at the elementary, middle and high school level.

Over the last ten years, I have enjoyed working alongside students with disabilities and knew I wanted to do more within special education to make a difference for our students. In 2017, I graduated with my Masters of Special Education and then decided to pursue my Supervisor of Special Education certificate. 

I am excited to be a part of the Pottstown School District and look forward to supporting our students and families. 

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my husband and our families. We enjoy taking our dog for walks, cooking, traveling, and finding great restaurants in the area.

Dr. LaTanya White is an experienced educator who specializes in promoting strong student achievement, positive student behavior, and community partnerships. Presently, Dr. White is the Director of Student Services at Pottstown School District and an Independent Educational Consultant for KenKayd Consulting. As an active Director and a former Supervisor of Virtual and Alternative Learning for the district, she continues researching and proposing new alternatives yielded towards promoting student achievement; academically, behaviorally, socially and emotionally. 

Prior to that appointment, Dr. LaTanya White served as Director of Tri-County Learning Academy, developing alternative learning programs for Alternatives Unlimited, Inc. She has worked with some of the most challenging students and has been successful when faced with challenges that have gone beyond student performance. One of Dr. White’s more recent accomplishments was establishing a district-wide evaluation instrument for virtual learning opportunities provided at the district. Her efforts led to the development of a multi-systemic Virtual and Alternative Learning Program for students grades K-12. Preceding the Director position, Dr. LaTanya White was the guidance counselor at Tri County Learning Academy where she has helped at-risk students develop the necessary tools to reach their highest potential in their endeavors with tact and skill.

Dr. White has several years of experience working as an educator in varied capacities, as well as a case manager, therapeutic support counselor, and program coordinator for Gateway Counseling. Dr. White serves as Co-Chair of the Youth Development Collaborate for Tri-County Community Network, and is an active advocate of the Women’s Center Domestic Violence Prevention. Dr. White is also an active member of several professional organizations, including International Association of K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL); Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators (PASA); American School Counselor Association (ASCA); and National Council of Negro Women (NCNW). She is a member of the YWCA and EXCEL, a professional women’s association of the YWCA. Dr. White received her Doctor of Education Degree in Educational Leadership from Immaculata University in Immaculata, Pennsylvania, her Master of Education Degree from West Chester University, West Chester, Pennsylvania, and her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Alvernia University, Reading, Pennsylvania. LaTanya White was born in Louisville, KY, but raised in Pottstown and has two children. She was a graduate of Pottstown School District.