Pedro A. Rivera

Pedro A. Rivera was appointed Superintendent of the School District of Lancaster in 2008. Mr. Rivera is an experienced educator that is passionate about his role in ensuring a well-rounded education for all students in the School District of Lancaster. The School District of Lancaster is an urban school district serving a diverse student population of approximately 11,300 students. In his role as Superintendent, Mr. Rivera and his team developed and implemented a new PreK-12 curriculum; an aggressive professional development plan; and innovative teacher observation tools. Under his leadership the School District of Lancaster has increased the number of schools attaining Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP); increased the graduation rate; decreased the drop-out rates; and improved parent and community participation. There is much left to be done in Lancaster, but with determination, commitment and a belief in the youth of Lancaster together with his School District of Lancaster team, Pedro A. Rivera will make his district a model urban school district.

Mr. Rivera was raised in the Hunting Park section of North Philadelphia and served in multiple roles in that community throughout most of his personal and professional life. His entire career has been focused in urban education. Mr. Rivera has vast experiences in the following career paths: classroom teacher, union staffer, assistant principal, principal, and executive director for the School District of Philadelphia. Mr. Rivera earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Penn State University; Masters Degree in Education Administration from Cheyney University, and his Superintendent's Letter of Eligibility from Arcadia University. Mr. Rivera is active in the Lancaster community serving on numerous boards including United Way, Lancaster Economic Development Corporation, and the Lancaster Homeless Coalition. Mr. Rivera is a member of Rotary International.

Additionally, Mr. Rivera serves on the ALAS (Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents) board and is President of PLUS (Pennsylvania League of Urban Schools). Mr. Rivera's belief is that no person can operate as an island, and that through communication, planning and the correct use of data, school districts can and will graduate productive lifelong learners.

Superintendent Rivera resides in Lancaster with his wife Erika, son Lucas (who attends 2^nd grade in the school district) and daughter, Elena.