Dr. George Fiore
The Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU) Board of Directors appointed Dr. George Fiore as its next executive director at a special Board meeting held on Wednesday, June 12, 2019, at the CCIU Educational Service Center in Downingtown.
“We are turning a new page, and going into a new era for the IU,” said CCIU Board President Bonnie Wolff. “I am looking forward to working with Dr. Fiore, hearing about his plans for the future and his vision for the IU.”
Fiore currently serves as superintendent of the Kutztown Area School District. He went to Kutztown in September 2016 from the Wilson School District in West Lawn, Pennsylvania, where he was the high school principal for four years. Prior to Wilson, Fiore was the founding headmaster of the Downingtown STEM Academy.
“I am honored to have been selected by the Chester County Intermediate Unit Board of Directors to serve as executive director,” said Fiore. “This is truly a wonderful opportunity to serve the 86,000 students of the 12 public school districts, private schools and charter schools of Chester County.”
Fiore will be replacing Dr. Joseph O’Brien, who is retiring from public education at the end of July.
“Dr. O’Brien’s retirement is bittersweet. He has been the anchor of the CCIU for the past 12 years,” said CCIU Board President Bonnie Wolff. “However, after 46 years in public service, he deserves the right to enjoy time with his family, to pursue his interests outside of work and to just relax. He will be missed incredibly.”
O’Brien, who has headed the CCIU since 2007, is credited with growing services and launching new initiatives that increased CCIU revenues by $120 million, as its overall annual budget grew from $150 million to $270 million.
“Going forward, it will be a team effort between Dr. Fiore and CCIU administrative leadership,” said Wolff. “I am confident the CCIU division directors will share their organizational knowledge with Dr. Fiore to ensure that his transition from superintendent to IU executive director is a smooth one with minimal disruption.”
Fiore, who will begin his duties as CCIU executive director on August 12, echoed Wolff’s sentiments.
“I am equally excited to work alongside the wonderful team at the CCIU,” he said. “Dr. O’Brien is a leader whom I have admired, and I look forward to continuing the great work he has done over the past 12 years.”
Fiore’s instructional school district experience also includes nine years as a high school social studies teacher, dean of students, director of instructional technology, high school assistant principal and junior high school principal.
Fiore’s notable accomplishments include increasing student achievement on state and national assessments, increasing equity of access for students in upper level courses such as Advanced Placement while increasing student achievement, earning National recognition for student achievement (US News & World Report Best High Schools, Washington Post Most Challenging High Schools, and Newsweek’s Beating the Odds: Top High Schools for Low-Income Students), earning Pennsylvania Department of Education Title I Distinguished Schools designation for student growth, implementing the International Baccalaureate curriculum, and developing, implementing and creating one of America’s best high schools.
Furthermore, Dr. Fiore has worked collaboratively with various stakeholders to raise over $1 million dollars through capital campaign fundraising and grant writing to support students, staff and the community.
Fiore earned his doctorate from Immaculata University in educational leadership and a master’s degree in classroom technology from Wilkes University. He earned his undergraduate bachelor of science degree in secondary education, concentration in social studies education and a minor in political science from Kutztown University. Fiore also serves as a part-time professor at Kutztown University, teaching graduate and doctoral education courses in the secondary education department as well as serving on several dissertation committees at Immaculata University.
The CCIU Board of Directors contracted the New Jersey-based firm Judy Wilson, LLC to conduct the executive search.
