Submitted by Bellefonte Area School District
ENOLA — Michael Fedisson, principal of Bellefonte Area High School, was announced as Pennsylvania’s 2024 Principal of the Year by the Pennsylvania Principals Association on Thursday, May 2.
As a state winner in the National Association of Secondary School Principals’ Principal of the Year Program, Fedisson is also a candidate for the National Secondary Principal of the Year. He will be recognized for his achievement by both the PPA and NASSP.
“I am pleased with the selection of Michael Fedisson, an outstanding leader and principal, as Pennsylvania’s 2024 Principal of the Year,” said Eric Eshbach, executive director for PPA. “He was chosen for this honor by a committee of his peers for his leadership and extraordinary contributions to his school, his students and his community. It is clear that Mr. Fedisson is a strong, collaborative leader who is committed to the success of everyone around him. We are extremely proud to have him represent the PA Principals Association and secondary principals across the commonwealth.”
Fedisson has been Bellefonte Area High School’s principal since 2017. He began his career at Bellefonte Area School District as a seventh-grade English language arts teacher at Bellefonte Middle School from 2003 to 2011. He briefly served as the dean of students at Bellefonte Area High School from 2011 to 2012 and served as vice principal at Bellefonte Area High School from 2012 to 2017.
He is a proud graduate of Bellefonte Area High School and a former student athlete. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Education from California University of Pennsylvania. He holds memberships in the PA Principals Association, NASSP, the PA Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
“I am extremely humbled by this honor. It represents the dedication of our school team and is an opportunity for me to express my gratitude to those who have supported and believed in me along the way,” said Fedisson.
Under Fedisson’s leadership, numerous programs and initiatives were developed and implemented at Bellefonte Area High School, including the agriculture education program, Project Lead the Way Engineering Curriculum, and the recent addition of a Developing Future Educators course to address the teacher shortage and highlight education careers for students.
One of Fedisson’s first initiatives at the high school was to implement a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports program, and in his second year as vice principal, the school reduced office discipline referrals by 50%.
“With continued work from our team, we have maintained that level and cultivated a positive culture in our school with a team of more than 50 student leaders,” Fedisson said. “We have served as a model PBIS program for other schools in central PA.”
In the past several years, Bellefonte Area High School has increased its focus on student and adult mental health as well. As part of the district’s social emotional learning committee, “Belong, Be Connected, Be Future Ready,” Fedisson and his team strived to provide additional mental health and wellness supports for staff and students.
“Most notably, we have partnered with a local nonprofit group, the Jana Marie Foundation, to offer training in teen mental health first aid to all 10th graders,” he explained.
In addition to his career as an educator, Fedisson is actively involved in his community. He is a 2022 graduate of Leadership Centre County and serves as a committee member for Leadership Centre County Education Day. In 2006, he was named the Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year.
“Mr. Fedisson has done a wonderful job of instituting many student-centered initiatives within our high school,” said Tammie Burnaford, superintendent of Bellefonte Area School District. “He also works very hard at investing in the overall pride that the students and staff have for being members of the Bellefonte Area School District. I am immensely proud of his achievements. They are well deserved.”
