Roxborough High’s principal Stephen Brandt will step down in July

This article was originally published in The Notebook. In August 2020, The Notebook became Chalkbeat Philadelphia.

by Aaron Moselle for NewsWorks

Stephen Brandt, Roxborough High School’s beloved, award-winning principal, is stepping down after more than four years on the job.

The Roxborough High alum is leaving to lead Bensalem High School in Bucks County. His tenure at Roxborough began in March 2009.

"It was a very difficult decision and it’s still a bittersweet moment in my life," Brandt told NewsWorks on Tuesday morning.

Since arriving at Roxborough, Brandt has worked tirelessly to improve his alma mater’s reputation in the neighborhood by addressing school climate and academics as two sides of the same coin.

His efforts have made a difference and earned him accolades.

Roxborough is no longer part of the state’s "persistently dangerous schools" list.

For the first time since Brandt took over at Roxborough, the school’s entire senior class – all 99 students – has been accepted to college.

In April, Brandt was awarded the 2013 Lindback Award for Distinguished Principal Leadership, which is handed out annually to the city’s top public school principals.

"That’s always going to be a special time for me and my career — just knowing that we were able to make a difference," he said.

The current state of the Philadelphia School District played a big part in Brandt’s decision.

Read the rest of this story at NewsWorks