New Principal Named for Easterly Parkway Elementary

State College Area School Board on Monday approved Danielle Yoder as the new principal for Easterly Parkway Elementary School.

Yoder has been principal of Penns Valley Elementary and Intermediate School since 2015 and was previously principal of Centre Hall-Potter Elementary School and Miles Township Elementary School for three years.

“I am eager to become a part of the State College community and be part of the Easterly Parkway team,” Yoder said in a statement. “The opportunities that State College provides to their students, as well as the collaborative approach to education, is empowering to me and something that I am thrilled to be joining. I hope to be able to support and work together with the teaching and administrative teams so that we can continue to grow and learn as we work towards our goals. Finally, I am looking forward to meeting the many families in the Easterly Parkway community and working with them to build lasting partnerships.’

She succeeds Michael Maclay, who left in December for a teaching position in Mifflin County after serving as Easterly Parkway principal since 2012. Retired SCASD Principal Linda Colangelo led the school as primary interim principal for the remainder of the school year.

Yoder’s 26-year career also includes a previous position as a language arts and math teacher in the Midd-West School District in Middleburg, Pa. At Penns Valley, she was the district’s Title 1 reading, English-language learners and assessment coordinator.

She has a bachelor of science degree in elementary education from Lebanon Valley College and master of science degrees in educational development and strategies from Wilkes University and in reading and educational leadership from Edinboro University.

“I believe she will be a nice complement to our administrative team, and I’m excited to have her be part of our district,” Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education Vernon Bock said. “In selecting Danielle as our top candidate, we completed two national searches that included input from teachers, parents, board members and administrators. I’m confident that she will be a great colleague and leader for our faculty and students.”