Dec 19, 2017 3 min read

WAYNESBURG – Helen McCracken is looking forward to the new year with fresh eyes in her now permanent role as Central Greene’s superintendent.

She said her focus includes fiscal responsibility and academic achievement at the district as she learns more about the schools she’ll be leading for the next five years.

McCracken said the board approached her in November about coming into the position full-time after she had been serving as interim superintendent since mid-September after coming out of retirement.

She replaced former superintendent Brian Uplinger, who in August accepted a position to work in another school district in northeastern Pennsylvania.

McCracken was approved for a five-year contract at the district’s Nov. 21 board meeting at an annual salary of $125,000. She had been making $340 a day as interim superintendent.

She said she was excited about the role, even when in a substitute position.

“I don’t envision myself as just a warm body in that seat,” McCracken recalled telling the board in her original interview.

Now, she’s excited about her future with the district.

“I live here and this is my home district,” she said.

She realizes it’s important to have an emotional connection to a district. McCracken retired as superintendent of Canon-McMillan in 2012, where she went to school. Central Greene is where both her daughter and husband attended school. She wants parents to understand she lives here, too.

“As a taxpayer myself, I can see the district through their eyes, but as an educator with 35 years of experience, I can see the district with that set of eyes,” said McCracken, who is a Waynesburg resident.

Her first priority is to get a grasp on the district’s financial standing, but her passion is student achievement. She’s also looking for input from the community as to what programs and opportunities are important to them.

McCracken said more concrete goals will come as she gets acclimated to the district. She’s also thankful to have a supportive school board.

“Together, we’re going to do some great things,” McCracken said.

Central Greene School Board President Andrew Corfont said McCracken impressed the board in her short time as interim superintendent enough to be their replacement selection. Her focus has been uniting the administration, and she’s brought a positive change to the district, he said.

“From day one she went in with a teamwork mentality. Everybody works together,” Corfont said.

During her time at Canon-McMillan, McCracken was also an assistant professor at California University of Pennsylvania in its Department of Secondary Education and Administrative Leadership program. McCracken most recently served as director of graduate programs in education for Waynesburg University at its Southpointe campus. McCracken has a doctorate degree from University of Pittsburgh and master’s degrees from both Robert Morris University and California University of Pennsylvania.