Press Release:

At a special meeting of the Cheltenham School District (CSD) Board of School Directors on Tuesday evening, Dr. Chris McGinley was approved unanimously as CSD’s interim superintendent for the 2026-27 school year. Dr. McGinley previously served the Cheltenham School District with distinction, first as assistant superintendent (1999-2003), then as superintendent from 2003-2006.

While in Cheltenham, he led the effort to close a persistent academic achievement gap, and partnered with the University of Pennsylvania to establish the Penn Center for Equity and Excellence, an organization that includes more than 50 school districts dedicated to closing achievement gaps. 

“At a time when the district is focused on rebuilding public trust and ensuring the safety of all students at all district schools, we believe that Dr. McGinley is uniquely qualified to lead our schools during the upcoming school year,” said CSD Board President Leah Mulhearn.

His roles as a teacher, school principal, district level administrator, school district superintendent and professor of educational leadership have shaped Dr. McGinley’s perspectives on leadership and learning.

He recently concluded his service as Policy, Organizational and Leadership Studies Department Chair at the Temple University College of Education and Human Development, where he held the post of professor of practice. Dr. McGinley also served on Philadelphia’s School Reform Commission and on the school board of the School District of Philadelphia. Dr. McGinley’s leadership experiences also include serving as Lower Merion School District Superintendent of Schools and Delaware County Intermediate Unit Executive Director.

Dr. McGinley began his career in the School District of Philadelphia as a special education teacher. In Philadelphia, he also served as an elementary and middle school principal, regional superintendent and executive director of leadership development.  

A graduate of Temple University with a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education, Dr. McGinley earned his master’s degree in special education from Antioch University and received his doctorate in organizational leadership from the University of Pennsylvania. He gained his principal certification at Temple University.

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Photo: CSD