Haverford Township unveils superintendent finalist Dr. Matthew Hees at community forum

Dr. Matthew Hees, the finalist for superintendent of the School District of Haverford Township, introduced his leadership priorities and answered community questions at a public forum organized by the Delaware County Intermediate Unit on behalf of the district.

Dr. Maria Edelberg, executive director of the Delaware County Intermediate Unit, opened the meeting and explained the search process that produced the finalist pool. "This Forum is really an opportunity for you to hear from Dr. Matthew Hees," she said, noting the search began in November 2024 and included 38 applicants.

Dr. Lata King, president of the School District of Haverford Township Board of School Directors, presented Hees to the community and praised the board's process. "We are proud to introduce Dr. Matthew Hees as the candidate who stood out as the best choice to lead our district forward," King said.

In his remarks, Hees framed his approach around collaborative leadership, measurable goals and instructional continuity. "My leadership style is collaborative, strategic and equitable," he said, adding that he favors teaming structures he calls "learning zones" to convert goals into concrete outcomes.

Hees detailed three pillars that would guide his work: academic rigor, a comprehensive MTSS (multi-tiered system of supports) framework, and instructional continuity that embeds professional learning and benchmarks. On assessments, he said districts can explore alternatives to standardized tests but must pair those explorations with clear metrics and accountability.

The candidate addressed concerns about technology and AI in classrooms, saying the district should pair an "emerging-technology" policy with academic-integrity guidelines and auditing of digital tools to balance instructional benefit and student well-being. "Technology should strategically support instruction; it should not replace the teacher," he said.

On safety and student supports, Hees described threat-assessment teams and partnerships with local law enforcement and health providers. He cited the American Counseling Association recommendation for counselor staffing (250 students per counselor) as an objective he would work toward when expanding behavioral-health services.

Hees also discussed special education: he favored co-teaching models, in-house continuum expansion and partnerships with intermediate units, universities and hospitals to reduce out-of-district placements and control costs. He described using internal audits and targeted program development to create consistent supports across grade spans.

Addressing staffing, Hees acknowledged statewide shortages for teachers and substitutes and outlined retention measures such as collaborative planning time, cultural-competency assessment in hiring, compensation and creative staffing pipelines including retirees and part-time hires.

On political pressures, including school-choice and funding challenges, Hees said he would combine advocacy with detailed audits of program dollars to reallocate resources where needed. "I will 100% work to earn trust," he said, pledging transparency and accountability through measurable strategies.

Organizers closed the forum after a broad set of questions from the community. Dr. King thanked attendees; Hees said he will continue meetings and one-on-one conversations throughout the transition process as the district moves toward a final decision.

Next steps: the forum served as a public input session in the superintendent search; the board will incorporate community feedback into its ongoing selection process.