Spotlight

It may be a day off from school Monday, but many in the Cheltenham School District will be treating it as a “Day On” in honor of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. All seven CSD schools will be engaged in MLK activities focused on helping those less fortunate or in need of a boost.

Cheltenham Elementary: Collecting and assembling care kits for the unhoused to be given to Covenant House and Project Home. CES Gymnasium, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Glenside Elementary: Creating “Birthday Parties in a Bag” for children at the Woodstock Family Center. GES Cafeteria, 9 - 11 a.m.

Myers Elementary: In support of St. Christopher Children's Hospital Center for the Urban Child, Myers Elementary will be collecting care package items for infants and children, and making cards of well-wishes for inpatient children. MES Gymnasium, 9 - 11 a.m.

Wyncote Elementary: Packing “Birthday Boxes” and making birthday decorations. In honor of Dr. King, birthday boxes will be donated to local food banks. WES Cafetorium, 10 - 11:30 a.m.

Elkins Park School: Making breakfast bags for the unhoused. EP Cafeteria, 10 a.m. - noon.

Cedarbrook M.S./Cheltenham H.S. - Writing letters to the troops; creating cards for Cradles to Crayons, packing kindness cups for the unhoused, and collecting toiletries for Fostering Hope Philly NE. CBK Learning Commons, 9-11 a.m.

Cheltenham H.S. - CHS Students will be able to earn points for their annual Blue and Gold competition by donating toiletry items to Fostering Hope Philly NE. Students are divided by last name into Blue (A-K) and Gold (L-Z) teams, and the team that donates the most items by January 17 earns points!
 

Six students’ work will be featured on the Philly Young Playwrights Festival 2024-25 production schedule. Ninth grader Nora Sparks’ “The Finale,” 11th grader Marlowe Miller’s “The Wrong Track,” ninth grader David Brookes’ “Iguana Quit,” fifth graders Ray Bonner and Abram Saavedra’s “The Rodent Revenge,” and Myers fourth grader Clyde Greenberg's "JuMaddenji" will be featured throughout the year at different festivals. These plays were selected by the Literary Committee (a collection of nearly 70 program alumni, artists, staff, teachers, and others) from over 700 submissions to be further developed and presented on stage. Purchase tickets>

After four years as vice principal, Shareese Nelson has been named interim principal at Elkins Park School. Nelson fills the role of Dr. Crystal Clark, who is on medical leave for an undetermined amount of time. The board of school directors approved Nelson’s appointment at its October 8 legislative meeting.

“Working at Elkins Park and serving the students of Cheltenham is my heart's work,” Nelson said. “It is truly an honor to serve as interim principal.”

In her four years as vice principal, Nelson has provided strategic leadership in collaboration with Principal Clark to develop and implement instructional
initiatives aligned with school goals and district standards; fostered a culture of continuous improvement by facilitating professional development workshops and coaching sessions for teachers on effective instructional strategies, assessment practices, and data-driven decision-making; and led curriculum development and revision efforts to ensure alignment with state standards, instructional best
practices, and the diverse needs of students.

Nelson came to Cheltenham in 2017 as the administrator for climate and culture at Elkins Park. In that position, she developed and trained staff on Positive Behavior Intervention Systems; created and maintained programming to support a positive school climate and culture; provided classroom support to teachers in instruction and classroom management; supported students through mentoring and restorative practices; and developed positive and proactive responses to negative student behavior.

Prior to coming to Cheltenham, Nelson was a classroom teacher at Thomas Fitzwater Elementary School in Willow Grove for 11 years, instructing first, second and fifth grades.

The author of the children’s book “The Me Inside,” Nelson earned her master’s degree in education from Chestnut Hill College, and a B.A. in communications from Temple University. She completed the Principal Certification program at Delaware Valley University, earned a GPIC Instructional Coach Certification from La Salle University, and has a Pennsylvania Department of Education Level II Teacher Certification.

Nelson resides in Wyncote with her husband and two children.
 

Cheltenham School District has tapped Ms. Ashley Pullum and Ms. Diane Rodriguez as the new supervisors of special education. Pullum will serve as supervisor for grades 5-8 and Rodriguez will fill the position of K-4 supervisor.

Ms. Pullum comes to Cheltenham with over 10 years of experience in special education. For the past year, Pullum served as the supervisor of special education at the Centennial School District. There, she supported general and special education personnel and students and supervised William Tennent High School’s special education department, as well as served as an LEA for out-of-district students.

Ms. Pullum earned her post-master's principal certification from Eastern University, her post-master's certification in applied behavioral analysis from George Mason University, and her master’s in education and B.A. in history from Temple University.

With a goal to lead with an equitable lens so that all students are provided with the necessary support and resources to thrive academically, emotionally, and socially, regardless of their background or abilities, Ms. Rodriguez comes to CSD from Philadelphia School District where she has served as special education network case manager since 2019.

There she worked with principals, special education liaisons, and teachers to connect the core curriculum; specially designed instruction, inclusive practices, and interventions to the academic goals of students’ Individualized Education Program (IEPs); and served as the key point of contact for stakeholders and provided leadership as it pertained to supporting special education initiatives, teaching and achievement.

Ms. Rodriguez received her education from Gwynedd Mercy University where she earned her master’s in educational leadership with principal certification, and La Salle University where she earned her master’s in teaching English to speakers of other languages K-12, bachelor’s degree in elementary K-6 and special education K-12 with minors in leadership and global understanding and American studies.