This week’s featured Q&A is with Jeff Rojik, principal of Burchfield Primary School in the Shaler Area School District.
What is something positive that you want others to know about your school?
Dr. Rojik: The staff is the most amazing, creative, selfless, and dedicated group of people. They ‘feed off’ of the great things that the other buildings in the district are doing. It is such a sense of community because of the teamwork with our teachers, support staff, paraprofessionals, custodians, and families.
What do you love about being a principal?
Dr. Rojik: I love having the ability to see individual student growth (academically, socially and emotionally) over the course of four years. There is an opportunity to create life-long relationships with the students and families.
In your opinion, what is the future of education?
Dr. Rojik: It looks like it will be in a state of constant change. With the obvious advancements in technology, the content is continuously being streamlined so that it is very individualized and challenging for each child. The environment in which students learn will also look differently. Whether it be physical differences in the classroom or the continual move towards student centered learning, these will be noticeable changes. We are also seeing the need to further our involvement with every aspect of student/family needs. Assisting with behavioral health, food scarcity, and a variety of other stressors that impact student learning are things that we can assist.