At the start of the 2023-24 academic year, Catasauqua High School welcomed David Todd as the new principal.

Todd grew up in the Quakertown area and graduated from Quakertown High School. He then went on to study education, earning his bachelor’s degree from West Chester University and a master’s degree from Cabrini University.

“I have always felt that education is more than a career - it is a calling,” Todd said.

The bulk of Todd’s education career was spent in Pottstown School District. He taught in a variety of areas, including social studies, entrepreneurship and personal finance. Todd also made his ascension to administration, serving as both an assistant principal and principal.

“While in Pottstown, I developed the foundation of my educational philosophy and learned a great deal during my time there,” Todd said.

He then expanded his experience and served in administrative roles in the Reading School District and, most recently, East Penn School District.

Todd was ready for a new challenge, and his searches led him to Catasauqua Area School District.

“I was looking for a smaller community that shared the same diversity, community, tradition and value for education that I experienced in Pottstown,” Todd reported. “Catasauqua shared all those strong traits.”

He was officially approved to fill the post of CHS principal at the June 13 Catasauqua Area School District Board of Education meeting.

Todd hopes to continue building on and advancing the strong traditions and community already in place at the school.

“There are so many great things happening at CHS, and we need to find avenues to keep all stakeholders connected and involved,” he said.

He wants all the CHS students to feel their time at the school has a larger purpose in helping move them forward in life and in developing additional insight into their future dreams. He hopes to use the high school years to help the students fulfill their personal goals and grow into better versions of themselves.

“Opening lines of communication, building a supportive environment and creating opportunities for members of the school community to come together is a good starting point,” he added.

He noted the start of the school year went smoothly. He thanked his team at CHS for stepping up and working to make the transition easy for him.

“The students here are personable, respectful and engaging,” he said. “Teachers are ready to learn and want what is best for their students. The administrative team at the building and in the district put all the groundwork in place.”

He said these elements combined to make his first few months enjoyable.

“Obviously, I have a great deal to learn and things to accomplish, but I am thankful for everyone’s work in giving me a good start,” Todd said.

At the Sept. 12 school board meeting, he reported the start of the year went better than he could have imagined.

“It’s been a blessing to be here,” Todd said. “I can’t stop smiling.”

He noted his favorite part of joining the district has been the students. He said the CHS students are “a pleasure to be around and serve,” and he is excited to watch them learn and grow.

Todd believes in a collaborative approach to education. He also believes learning does not stop once you become an educator.

“I believe that, as educators, we have to hold high standards for ourselves and the educational community as a whole,” Todd said.

He said looking back at past practices and evaluating them from a new, fresh perspective can be challenging, but it is vital to bring everyone together and ensure they are all on the same page. This allows the team to share the same mission, vision and purpose.

“Everyone matters, and the small things make a big difference,” Todd reported. “In a small district such as Catasauqua, small, incremental changes can have a large and powerful impact.”

Todd believes it is important to be well-rounded and to explore a variety of experiences to enrich your life. He reported enjoying spending time outdoors, fly fishing, reading and training jiu jitsu.

He also considers family to be the most important aspect of life. He loves spending time with his wife of 30 years, who is also an educator, and their 22-year-old twin sons.