Todd Price, a 1994 graduate of Bradford Central Christian High School, has been named Principal of the Year by a state association of school administrators.
Price, the principal of Montour High School, has been honored by the Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals, or PAESSP.
“It was a surprise. It definitely was unexpected,” Price said Monday, the day he received his official letter of congratulations. “I’m not totally sure it’s resonated with me yet.”
He explained with a chuckle that this honor very nearly didn’t happen.
“I wasn’t sure I was going to go through the application process,” he said, explaining the application was lengthy. And then when he did complete it, he set it aside and forgot about it.
“I got an email and a phone call and I was like, ‘What?’ It’s not something I expected was going to happen.”
While he’s honored by the personal recognition, Price may be more pleased with the positive attention for Montour School District.
“I’m happy for our school and our school district. The positive attention it will bring to our school and our teachers is what I appreciate most,” he said.
And he credits his fellow educators, as well as his mother — Debbie Price, executive director of Evergreen Elm and former administrator with Bradford Regional Medical Center — for contributing to his success.
“I’ve been really fortunate. I’ve had a lot of great teachers through college and graduate school,” Todd Price said. “I’ve been fortunate to have some great mentors in my administrative career. Whether it was teachers I had growing up or in college or graduate school or teachers I’ve worked with as an administrator, or my colleagues in my principalship.”
He credits his mother with his work ethic and commitment.
“She puts in a ton of hours and is really dedicated to what she does,” he said. “That probably had rubbed off on me more than anything. I pride myself on my commitment to my profession. I got that work ethic from my mom, and wanting to be the best I can be.”
He called Bradford “a great place to grow up.”
Price will join his fellow principals of the year from across the country for consideration as 2018 National Principal of the Year in a program conducted by the National Association of Secondary School Principals.
“The state conference this year is outside of Pittsburgh,” he said, explaining it’s held in the fall. “At that point it will probably sink in for me.
“The way I understand the process, the 50 state winners are brought together in Washington, D.C. I’ll have a chance to go and interact with some senators and congressmen to discuss education,” he explained.
Price graduated from Temple University in Philadelphia with a bachelor’s degree in education. While teaching in the school district of Philadelphia, Price earned his master’s degree in educational leadership and curriculum and instruction from Saint Joseph’s University.
After relocating to Pittsburgh, Price assumed a position with the Allegheny Intermediate Unit’s math and science collaborative.
He began his administrative career as the Montour School District’s David E. Williams Middle School where he served as assistant principal for two years and is now completing his tenth year as high school principal.
He resides in Kennedy Township with his wife Jill and three children.
