The School Board of the William Penn School District unanimously voted to appoint Dr. Eric J. Becoats as Superintendent of Schools at the Board Business Meeting on February 24, 2020 after an extensive search process that began in August 2019. Dr. Becoats began working in the William Penn School District on May 18, 2020, after a transition period with the retiring superintendent.

During the transition, Dr. Becoats took the opportunity to collaborate on some administrative matters and to become familiar with the William Penn community. He introduced himself to the community with the Superintendent’s Entry Plan, entitled “Focus Forward: Listen, Learn, and Lead,” during which time he met with staff, individuals, borough officials, and community groups who have a vested interest in the well-being and success of the William Penn School District.

Dr. Becoats was administered the Oath of Office by President Judge Kevin Kelly on June 11, 2020 at the Media Courthouse in Delaware County.

Dr. Becoats has 30 years of experience in Education, which includes serving as Assistant Superintendent in the School District of Philadelphia before William Penn. Some of his most notable achievements there include developing a school equity turnaround model for 19 schools serving more than 9,000 students in grades K-12, developing and implementing instructional data protocols for 19 network schools in grades K-12, successfully training 19 principals on research based data-driven instructional practices, and increasing the number of Network Schools showing improvement in student achievement by 80% within one year. He has also worked for Distinctive Schools in Rockport, Illinois, for Durham Public Schools, Guilford County Schools, and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in North Carolina, and for Baltimore City Public Schools.

Dr. Becoats earned a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2001, Master of Science Degree in Finance from Johns Hopkins University in 1992, and Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from Lincoln University in 1988.

Dr. Becoats directed and led the development of the William Penn School District’s Strategic Plan: Focus Forward 2025, a four-year (2021-2025) plan to guide the School District’s actions to improve outcomes for students. Focus Forward 2025 was developed with the input of students, parents, teachers, administrators, and elected officials. The plan was driven by three primary focus areas

(1) Academic Excellence, (2) Cohesiveness, and (3) Efficiency, Effectiveness and Equity – and guides the direction of the future of the William Penn School District.

In April 2022, Dr. Becoats was selected as a Dr. Frank “Tick” Coleman Award recipient by the Alumni Association of Lincoln University (AALU) (PA), Philadelphia Chapter. In May 2022, Dr. Becoats received the Educational Leadership Award for Secondary Education from the Young Men and Women In Charge Foundation, Inc. These awards were bestowed in recognition of Dr. Becoats’ commitment to education, value for academic excellence, leadership, and impact on the community. Additionally, Dr. Becoats received the 2023 Key Communicator Award by the Pennsylvania School Public Relations Association. He was recognized for his commitment to communication excellence and transparency as well as key initiatives such as convocations, video messages to the community, and community conversations.