Dr. Christopher Jahnke, principal of Jenkintown Elementary School since July 2022, allegedly announced his retirement through a scathing email sent to the Jenkintown School District’s Board of Directors at some point this year.

Screenshots of that alleged email were transcribed and published by Walkable Jenkintown’s Facebook page earlier this week. The screenshots claim that Dr. Jahnke’s decision is based on “wanting to spend quality time with my family” along with various criticisms regarding the alleged conduct of Dr. Jill Takacs, district superintendent.

Glenside Local reached out to the Jenkintown School Board for verification and a response. Dr. Megan O’Brien, Board President, emailed the following on behalf of the Board:

Jenkintown School Board does not comment on personnel matters. Because everyone with access to the internal proceedings related to a complaint are bound to confidentiality, anyone making a public assertion about what these proceedings are or are not in a specific case is either intentionally or recklessly spreading information they have no way of verifying.

At the same time the Board encourages members of the community to ignore unverified assertions, it continues to encourage private messages or public statements relating personal opinions and experiences. This kind of open communication aids the Board by providing information on which to base its decisions. 

Our policies prohibit students from cyber-bullying, and we encourage community members to adhere to at least this standard, modeling appropriate behavior for the next generation. The Board finds circulating unverified accounts or personal attacks against employees, students, or families unacceptable. Such actions are damaging, divisive, and contrary to the values of fairness and respect that this District seeks to uphold.

This Board is proud of the progress the District has made under Superintendent Takacs’s leadership, including staying open with a virtual option during COVID, adopting an evidence-based ELA curriculum, and improving its credit rating with a balanced and fiscally-responsible budget. The Board condemns efforts to disparage Superintendent Takacs through rumor or innuendo and affirms its appreciation for the progress the District has achieved under her leadership.

We then reached out to Dr. Jahnke, who confirmed that he had sent a retirement email to the school board. When asked to confirm if Walkable Jenkintown’s screenshots were, in fact, that email, he asked us to check with the school board.

When we told him we already had done so, he replied, “I appreciate you reaching out. However, I am happily retired. If you need to validate the letter, please retrace your sources to confirm.”

So, we don’t know.

Bob Kohlhepp, who is campaigning for Jenkintown School Board Director, posted the following on Tuesday, August 26:

Good Evening Jenkintown Residents,

Now that summer has drawn to a close I figured it would be a good time to remind everyone of the upcoming November School Board Election and start up my campaign as the only candidate suitable of providing real change to the School District. My opinions are not for everyone but atleast I share them and am willing and open to public and private discussion, unlike the other candidates running.

A big point of contention prior to the May primary was the retaining of Superintendent Dr Jill Takacs’ contact. Many negative things were said and it would be few and far between to find someone outside our current board to say something positive about her. Constant principal turnover, teachers resigning, and an unstable and threatening work environment. All things anyone paying attention with students in the district would know.

In March, when Dr Jahnke came out and announced his “retirement”, there were whispers of why he was leaving, but thanks to a kind member of the community those questions have been answered. Im told the following scathing email was written by outgoing Principal Dr Jahnke and was received by the Board in early July. Almost 2 months ago. After reading this you may think, how has nothing been done about this? Is the district going to be sued? I’m not going to comment any further and will let you all make your conclusions on the matter. But what it shows to me is everything I’ve heard privately for an 8 year period since I’ve had my children in the district. We’ve been paying this person over $200,000+ a year to single handedly destroy our district.

My views remain the same. And remember come November I will be the only candidate on the ballot who will declare publicly that the first order of business is to Fire Dr Jill Takacs as Superintendent.

According to Dr. Jahnke’s LinkedIn page, he previously served as principal of Scott 6th Grade Center in Coatesville from 2019-2022, North Brandywine Middle School in Coatesville from 2015-2019, Radnor Middle School (Wayne, PA) from 2014-2015, and Mountville Elementary School (Mountville, PA) from 2007-2014. He received his Doctor of Education from Immaculata University.

Dr. Takacs has served as Superintendent of the School District of Jenkintown since the fall of 2016. Prior, she was the assistant superintendent of the Middletown Township Public Schools in Middletown, New Jersey, according to the district’s website. She received her bachelor’s degree from East Stroudsburg University, a master’s degree in secondary education from Rutgers University, a master’s degree in education from Monmouth University, and a Doctor of Education from Walden University.

If anyone from Jenkintown School District would like to confirm the email in question, please forward it to info@burbmedia.com.

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