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CYHS Principal Mr. Ryan Caufman Recognized as Pennsylvania's Principal of the Year

Ryan J. Caufman, Principal of Central York High School in the Central York School District, has been named Pennsylvania’s 2022 Principal of the Year by the Pennsylvania Principals Association. As a state winner in the National Association of Secondary School Principals’ (NASSP) Principal of the Year Program, Mr. Caufman will be under consideration to be named the National Secondary Principal of the Year. He will be honored by both the PA Principals Association and NASSP at special award ceremonies in the fall.

According to PA Principals Association Executive Director, Dr. Eric C. Eshbach, “We congratulate Ryan Caufman, an exceptional leader and principal, for being named the 2022 Secondary Principal of the Year. He was selected to receive this esteemed award by a committee of his peers from the PA Principals Association for his leadership and outstanding contributions to his school, his students and his community. Additionally, he was instrumental in the creation and implementation of numerous programs at Central York High School which have had a significant impact on school culture and helped many students. We are extremely proud to have him represent our association and secondary principals across Pennsylvania.”

An educator for 24 years, Mr. Caufman served in his current role as the principal at Central York High School for 14 years. Previously, he was a secondary mathematics teacher and assistant principal in the West Shore School District. Before he became principal of Central York High School, he served for two years as an assistant principal. In addition, Mr. Caufman is an officer in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, serving proudly for the past 21 years.

“I am truly honored to have been selected as the PA Principal Association’s Principal of the year. There are so many amazing principals in PA, and right here in York County, that I am grateful to have been chosen. I am blessed to work at Central with such an excellent administrative team, school board, staff, students and community members, and with them, it has been possible to customize our educational program to provide the best education for our students,” said Mr. Caufman.

Under Mr. Caufman’s exemplary leadership, numerous programs and initiatives have been developed and implemented in his school. A direct result of his efforts is the customization of the high school educational program. “I am proud of the hard work that administrators and teachers have done to develop a variety of learning experiences, allowing students to learn at different rates, in a variety of styles, while engaging in areas of interest that prepare them for their preferred future,” explained Mr. Caufman. Another program that has had tremendous success with some of their most at-risk students is the Panther Pathways program. This school-wide program provides struggling learners the opportunity to complete credit recovery, while providing group and individual counseling through a partnership with a private agency. According to Caufman, “Panther Pathways has helped 116 at-risk students overcome their obstacles and graduate from high school.”

In addition, the implementation of the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) has had a significant impact on Central York’s school culture and has provided a community for many students who were not engaged in other co-curricular activities. “This program provides students with true leadership opportunities. Students are responsible to lead all activities and events under the mentorship of their instructors. It is an amazing program,” said Mr. Caufman.

“In my 15 years in school administration, I have not encountered a stronger leader than Mr. Caufman. Mr. Caufman has deftly navigated tumultuous times to keep his faculty focused on doing what is best for kids. He takes tremendous pride in the culture and climate of his building…and works tirelessly to do what is best for kids. The Central York community is tremendously fortunate to have him leading for our staff and students alike,” shared Dr. Peter Aiken, Superintendent of Central York School District.

Mr. Caufman is a member of the Pennsylvania Principals Association, NASSP, the Pennsylvania Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (PASCD) and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. He served as PASCD’s Southern Region Treasurer from 2008-2017 and on the Executive Board of the York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association. In addition, he has coached youth baseball for Red Land since 2016; received the Innovative Education Award from Phi Delta Kappa in May 2016; served as a teacher mentor; and has presented at numerous conferences.

Mr. Caufman earned a Bachelor of Science in education from Millersville University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Education from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Caufman and his wife, Angela, a special education teacher, have two boys, Reid and Victor. In his spare time, he enjoys watching and coaching his sons as they play hockey, lacrosse, baseball and flag football.

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