Lampeter-Strasburg High School (LSHS) principal Benjamin Feeney was recently elected to serve a three-year term on the board of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). The position follows a long list of roles that Feeney has played in the world of education, from teaching social studies to meeting with government officials to advocate for students and teachers across the country. Feeney will begin his term in August, and he will continue to serve as LSHS' principal as he works with NASSP over the next few years.

Feeney started his career as a social studies teacher at Conestoga Valley High School, where he worked for seven years. In 2014, he became the assistant principal at LSHS, a role that he filled until he became the principal in 2016. This year marks not only his 10th year at the high school, but also his 10th year as a member of NASSP. "I'm really looking forward to serving the board and helping it achieve its mission and vision," Feeney said. "We want to focus on growing the number of future school leaders and retaining them. Those are very important pieces to our field."

Feeney has been heavily involved in organizations like NASSP over the course of his career. He has served on the board of the PA Principals Association since 2020, and he will conclude his term by assisting with its Summit23 conference in August. Feeney also serves as the association's representative on the Pennsylvania School Safety and Security Committee, giving him a connection to state lawmakers and Congress. As part of the committee, Feeney meets with state officials to discuss safety measures across Pennsylvania.

Last fall, Feeney became an ambassador for NASSP's Principal Pipeline project. The national campaign and study addressed principal recruitment and retention across the United States, and it connected Feeney with educators on a national level. When a seat opened on NASSP's board, Feeney saw it as a perfect opportunity to continue learning about his profession and to share his values. He applied in the spring of 2023, advancing through the screening process, which culminated in an interview with the nominating committee in April.

As a member of the board, Feeney plans to continue his work on special projects like the Principal Pipeline. He also wishes to remain active in his advocacy work to bring national awareness to the needs of students and teachers. One of Feeney's priorities is to raise awareness of mental health and to provide resources in schools everywhere.

"I strongly believe that all students have the ability to learn and to be successful," Feeney said. "It really is our job as educators to help them identify their strengths and unlock their potential to achieve success. That's what I strive for."

Although Feeney will be working on behalf of students across the country, he said he remains rooted in the Lampeter-Strasburg School District. "I will always love this community," Feeney added. "I really feel blessed to serve this role and to be of service to the district."