Short feels at home as new Gateway superintendent
Gateway School District's new superintendent, William Short, feels right at home and is ready to take on his new responsibilities as he begins his new position.
“Education is in my blood,” he said. “This is the place I was born and raised.”
Short took over the position last Friday from Nina Zetty, who retired a year early. He has been performing the duties of superintendent since March, when Zetty went on sick leave.
Short, 49, has been with the district since 1992, when he started as a social studies teacher at Gateway Middle School. He later taught at the high school, where he eventually became principal. He has been assistant superintendent since 2014. Short is also a graduate of the district and grew up in Pitcairn.
He said there are always a lot of expectations when someone starts a new position, but he sees his job as a smaller part of a bigger picture.
“It's a continuation of the legacy that's been laid before us,” he said. “It's not about one person — everyone's involved in this.”
Short plans to tackle the achievement gap between white and black Gateway students by better aligning the curriculum with state standards and creating targeted remediation programs for each student who needs to improve.
“It's truly data-driven,” Short said. “It goes back to looking at every individual child.”
Short said the district utilizes data that can show a student's progress over time and pinpoint what areas of study they need extra help with.
“Our mission is to educate all children,” he said. “I think we have the best staff in Western Pennsylvania, if not in the state.”
He said he would also like to improve the district's communications with its stakeholders.
He said that includes updating the Gateway website and working to get positive news out into the community.
“It needs to have that ‘wow' factor,” he said.
School board President Chad Stubenbort said he is looking forward to working with Short.
“It's a new chapter in Gateway,” Stubenbort said.
Short has some critics who say he isn't qualified to be superintendent. He sees it differently.
“I do have 20 years of administrative experience,” he said. “It's extensive, it's broad.”
Short said he knows and understands not only the district, but the communities that make it up.
He said he has worked with several parents, councils and school boards over the years.
“I think the community knows what they have in Bill Short,” he said. “They have trust.”
Emily Balser is a Tribune-Review staff writer. She can be reached at 412-871-2369 or ebalser@tribweb.com.
