Roxborough Principal Leaves for Bensalem High

Roxborough High School Principal Steve Brandt announced in May that he would be leaving the high school and the Philadelphia School District.

He’ll still be Principal Brandt, just at Bensalem High School in Bucks County.

“I’m proud of each and every one of you,” Brandt said last week at Roxborough High’s graduation ceremony.  “I want you to know that my time at Roxborough has been the highlight of my career.

Before he was at Roxborough, Brant served as the principal at East Norriton Middle School and Jenks Elementary School in Chestnut Hill.

‘When I first arrived here, I was ashamed to tell people I went to Roxborough High School,” said class of 2013 salutatorian Guia Longasa.  “But then Steve Brandt arrived, our knight in shinning armor.”

When Brandt took over Roxborough, it was considered the second most dangerous high school in the entire Philadelphia district.

Now, it’s no longer on lists of the district’s dangerous high schools. 

“We were here,” Brandt said at Wednesday’s graduation.  “Together we made a difference.  I’m proud of each and every one of you, and I just want to say thank you.”

Current Assistant Principal Dana Jenkins is slated to take over as principal for the 2013-14 school year.

During Brandt’s tenure as Roxborough High School Principal PSSA scores at the school increased by 14 percent in reading and 12 percent in math. 

Brandt also received the Lindback Foundation Award for Distinguished Principal Leadership from the Philadelphia School District.