SCRANTON, Pa. — A familiar face is returning to the Scranton School District, as Erin Keating, Ed.D, has been named the new superintendent.
"It's an opportunity to come back and to finish some things that I didn't get to do when I was here and to work with truly amazing and awesome people. I'm really, really excited," said Keating.
Keating was the chief of leadership development and school operations in the district from 2016 to 2019. She is currently the superintendent at Old Forge School District.
She returns to Scranton amid the district's ongoing effort to climb out of debt, talk of closing and combining elementary schools, and, most recently, concern over gang violence.
"With the recovery plan is it is underway, and there is a plan as to the gang violence, gang violence, we know with what happened in Scranton is here, but it's in the entire area. It's not isolated to just Scranton," said Keating.
Keating was appointed to the position following an 8 to 1 vote in her favor, with one school board member abstaining.
The show of support was also seen from teachers and faculty.
"The Scranton Federation of Teachers 1147 will cooperate fully with the new superintendent to bring this district into forward mode," said Rosemary Boland, Scranton Federation of Teachers.
"I've never had the privilege of working with Dr. Keating, but everybody has talked about how fantastic she is and what an incredible leader she is, and we are just really grateful to have her here with us in Scranton," said West Scranton High School Principal Renee Stevens.
Keating will take over for acting superintendent Patrick Laffey in early April.