Mar 9, 2015 3 min read

Editor’s note: School administrators clarified Tuesday that Melvin Claytor was the first African-American principal. He served as assistant principal at Washington Park Elementary School between 1987 and 1989. Chet Henderson’s salary is actually $68,500. It was stated incorrectly in the story.

In one fell swoop, officials at Washington School District voted to bring a new junior high school principal on board and, in doing so, also hired the district’s first black principal in 26 years.

Chet Henderson, a Washington High School alumnus who currently serves as dean of students, was unanimously accepted for the position during Monday’s school board meeting.

Henderson, who was in attendance with his family, said he plans to bring new ideas to the table and wants to focus on motivating all students to succeed.

“I’ve taken my experiences in the classroom and as dean of students, and I think a lot of those things are going to help me be a better administrator,” Henderson said, “and, because I’m from the community, I’ll push for the change that we want to see in the district.”

School Director John Campbell Sr. applauded Superintendent Roberta DiLorenzo and the board for hiring Henderson.

“I commend this board for doing this and making Chet not only the first black administrator at Wash High, but someone that lives Blue and Black,” Campbell said.

“All the black students that went here when I went here, which was about 50 years ago, just have a certain gleam in their eyes tonight that this board and this administration has stepped up.”

Henderson graduated from Washington High School in 2001 and went on to attend the U.S. Naval Academy. He earned an education degree from California University of Pennsylvania and taught social studies at Washington School District in the junior and senior high schools. He has held the Dean of Students title since November and also serves as defensive coordinator for the high school football team.

His contract and duties are effective today, and he will earn a salary of $68,500. He will be replacing interim principal Paul Kostelnik, who will be moving into his role as high school principal beginning next school year. Current high school principal Frank Rotunda will retire effective June 30.

Henderson will continue to carry out roles as dean of students until a replacement is found, DiLorenzo said.

Also during the meeting, the board created a new position and quickly filled it. James Webb, of Washington, who was in attendance with his family, was hired as supervisor of child accounting, transportation and the Pennsylvania Information Management System. He was unanimously approved for a five-year contract, effective May 18, and a salary of $72,000.

DiLorenzo said Webb’s duties will include information management, fulfilling state reporting requirements and overseeing all enrollments and withdrawals in the district. Kostelnik has been performing those duties to date.