Dr. Jeffrey S. Fecher, Superintendent of Schools

Jeffrey S. Fecher, Ed.D., became Superintendent of the Abington School District in November 2018. He was previously Assistant Superintendent for six years, and prior to that, served as Principal of Abington Senior High School and Principal-Elect of Willow Hill Elementary School.

Dr. Fecher aims to make Abington School District’s vision of our schools being “future-forward, innovative learning environments” a reality, where students are prepared for the challenges of the future. This vision—coupled with Dr. Fecher’s commitment to diversity, equity and community engagement—is evident in Abington School District’s strategic, comprehensive plan. The goals of the plan, through the 2024-2025 school year, include promoting social and emotional wellness and the personal success of all students, as well as redesigning effective instructional practices. 

Dr. Fecher was appointed as Superintendent during a pivotal time in Abington School District, playing a critical role in the planned redesign of the K-12 curriculum, which included a one-to-one technology initiative; a college and career Pathways Program; and a grade-span reconfiguration as part of a major additions and renovations project at Abington Senior High School. Since becoming Superintendent, Dr. Fecher has worked to enhance communications and community engagement, receiving the Key Communicator Award from the Pennsylvania School Public Relations Association (PenSPRA) in 2023.

Under Dr. Fecher's leadership, District accomplishments have also included:

• Abington School District's acceptance into the League of Innovative Schools, a national coalition of forward-thinking K-12 school districts organized by Digital Promise, a global nonprofit working to expand opportunity for every learner by bringing together solutions across research, practice, and technology.

• Abington School District being named to the Forbes list of “America’s Best Employers by State” in 2020.

• Abington, PA being named one of the Best Places to Live in the U.S. by MONEY in 2020 (no. 19) and 2022 (no. 24), with quality of schools cited as a driving factor in the rankings.

Outside of District operations, Dr. Fecher is committed to serving the communities where the students of Abington School District and their families reside. He previously served on the Board of Managers at the Greater Philadelphia YMCA, Willow Grove Branch, and served as a member of the Montgomery County Human Relations Advisory Council. Further, Dr. Fecher is a past co-chair of the Abington Community Taskforce (ACT). In 2014, he received the Willow Grove Branch NAACP Education Award, and he was the recipient of the Friend of Education Award from the Mideastern Region of the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) in 2023.

Dr. Fecher earned a Doctorate of Education in educational and organizational leadership from the University of Pennsylvania (Penn), a Master of Arts in educational administration from Rider University, and Bachelor of Arts degrees in English literature and secondary education English from La Salle University, where he also minored in women’s studies.

Before joining Abington School District, Dr. Fecher was a middle school assistant principal in the Flemington-Raritan School District, and an English teacher at Bordentown Regional High School-both in New Jersey.

For more in-depth background of Dr. Fecher’s career accomplishments and professional qualifications, please click here.

Dr. James A. Melchor, Assistant Superintendent

Dr. James A. Melchor became Assistant Superintendent of the Abington School District in November 2018. He has been with the District since 2009, previously serving as Assistant Director of Curriculum, a role in which he helped lead the secondary programming for reconfigured grade spans and launch the corresponding Superintendent’s Committee. While in this position, he also chaired a number of other Superintendent’s Committees in addition to leading the School District’s implementation of the Skyward Student Information System and the Abington Cyber Education (ACE) initiative. 

Prior to joining the Abington School District, Dr. Melchor served as an elementary principal and middle school assistant principal in the Owen J. Roberts School District in Pottstown, PA, and a social studies and science teacher at the secondary level in the Delaware Valley School District in Milford, PA.

Dr. Melchor received his Doctorate of Education in educational leadership from the University of Pennsylvania, where he completed his dissertation on “Faculty perceptions of, and participation in, a small school district’s large-scale change.” He studied the reconfiguration of a district undergoing similar grade span shifts as the result of a renovation and building project as Abington School District’s current reconfiguration and project.

Dr. Melchor also has Master of Science degrees in educational leadership and educational technology from Wilkes University, and in secondary education from the University of Pennsylvania. He received his bachelor’s degrees in biology and history from the University of Pennsylvania as well.  

Professional growth opportunities in which he has participated include a 2004 orientation to New Zealand’s educational system in partnership between the University of Auckland and University of Pennsylvania, the 2008 Chinese Bridge for American Schools program sponsored by Hanban and the College Board, and a 2011 Regional Consultancy Meeting for the Americas Educational Leadership Network which provided introduction to Nicaragua’s educational system. More locally, Dr. Melchor has completed the New Superintendents Academy through the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators (PASA) as well as ongoing professional development related to equitable practices through PASA and the Delaware Valley Consortium for Excellence and Equity (DVCEE).

In addition to membership in a variety of professional organizations, Dr. Melchor presently serves as Co-Chair of the Abington Community Taskforce (ACT) and on the Board of Directors for the Montgomery County Network for Education and Workforce.