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A.W. Beattie selects Heasley as leader
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Eric Heasley has been pretty much in training for the job of director at A.W. Beattie Career Center in McCandless.
Mr. Heasley, 46, of Shaler had been acting director since the latter part of last year, when Kathryn Ingram retired. When it came time for the Joint Operating Committee -- Beattie's board of directors -- to interview for permanent director, he was among the candidates.
"I had to go through the interview process, and like anyone else, you worry," he recalled. "But you show up, and you do a good job, and you wait."
The waiting was over last Thursday, when the committee unanimously approved his contract and appointed him as executive director, effective July 1, at an annual salary of $92,000.
Mr. Heasley joined Beattie in 2002 as a support staff person. He became dean of students in 2003, and in 2006 he was promoted to principal.
Mrs. Ingram made a lasting impression on the Beattie community with a $20 million renovation of the facility, which ranks as a certified Gold LEED building and recently won the U.S. Department of Education's Green Ribbon Schools award.
Mr. Heasley, on the other hand, plans to focus on curriculum expansion.
"We're targeting the energy sector as a whole," said Mr. Heasley, noting that last year Beattie students piloted curriculum written by Junior Achievement on energy sector jobs. "We tested it with a select group of kids last year, and it was well received by students and staff."
He said the school is currently reviewing curriculum written by the Pennsylvania College of Technology regarding "unconventional gasses" and other energy sector job opportunities.
He pointed out that students are already working on the full spectrum of energy-related jobs, including solar training as well as gas-related curriculum.
"There will be many jobs directly and indirectly related to the expansion of the energy sector in Western Pennsylvania, and we plan to have programs in place which will reap the benefits from [this growing industry]," Mr. Heasley said.
"I look forward to working with the joint operating committee to serving all of our students from the nine sending districts," he added. "There are exciting things happening at A.W. Beattie Career Center."
The school serves students from nine North school districts.
First Published June 28, 2012 5:49 am
