Dr. Leslye Abrutyn is a highly regarded professional in the primary, secondary, post-secondary, and graduate-level community of schools, both in Philadelphia and nationwide.

Dr. Leslye Abrutyn’s Educational Credentials and Accomplishments:
Dr. Leslye Abrutyn received her Doctor of Philosophy degree in education leadership and her master’s degree in special education from Temple University, in Philadelphia. Dr. Leslye Abrutyn earned her Bachelor’s Degree in elementary education from Boston University, and Leslye Abrutyn also holds certifications as an elementary school principal, a secondary school principal, and as superintendent of schools.

Dr. Leslye Abrutyn currently serves as superintendent of the Penn-Delco School District, where  she began her tenure there in 1993 as assistant superintendent. In these roles, Dr. Leslye Abrutyn managed more than 500 teachers, administrators, and support personnel; in addition, the district’s buses transported more than 4,200 students to school each day.

Also at Penn-Delco, Leslye Abrutyn improved the practice of hiring and recruiting teachers, implemented professional training programs, enhanced the schools’ curriculum, and managed the process of overseeing the renovation of every district facility, plus new construction.

Dr. Leslye Abrutyn has shown cutting-edge insight and skill at Penn-Delco regarding the implementation of educational technology in support of classroom instruction. This earned Dr. Leslye Abrutyn both state and national recognition.  In addition, Dr. Leslye Abrutyn’s initiatives resulted in a phenomenal rise in standardized test scores at two elementary schools—Parkside and Coebourn.  Dr. Leslye Abrutyn’s efforts at Parkside resulted in the highest increase ever recorded in the Commonwealth—300 points—where the average increase in scores statewide was fewer than 10 points.

Dr. Leslye Abrutyn’s Honors in the Country’s Capitol
Former U.S. Undersecretary of Education Gene Hickok and former Pennsylvania Education Secretary singled out Dr. Leslye Abrutyn’s work in a address to Congress in Washington, D.C.,  in 1999, commenting, “Our experience in Pennsylvania is that technology can indeed improve academic achievement...the Penn-Delco School District outside of Philadelphia…developed a technology plan designed to empower teachers and offer customized learning.”

Hickok also commended Leslye Abrutyn and Penn-Delco for using technology as a teaching tool to reinforce, not replace, classroom lessons and for achieving a “staggering” nearly 31 percent rise in student standardized test scores in one year.

Dr. Leslye Abrutyn’s Awards and Community Achievements
Dr. Leslye Abrutyn presented “Using Technology to Improve Achievement Accountability and Public Support” at the 2001 Technology and Learning Conference in Atlanta.
Leslye Abrutyn also spearheaded a video training program for Penn-Delco schools, produced by the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), to be distributed nationally and internationally.

In 1999, Dr. Leslye Abrutyn was named to Temple University’s “Gallery of Success” for Dr. Leslye Abrutyn’s achievements and served on the Board of Advisors for the Professional Development Leadership Center at the university. Leslye Abrutyn also has served on the Teacher Preparation Advisory Board at Cabrini College in Philadelphia.

Additionally, Leslye Abrutyn served on the Pennsylvania Department of Education Advisory Board. Dr. Leslye Abrutyn has participated for many years in the March of Dimes Walkathon for Delaware County, and Dr. Leslye Abrutyn is an active member of the Delaware County Intermediate Unit “Safe Schools” Planning and Steering Committee.