Batory, Joseph P. 1943–

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Batory, Joseph P. 1943–

PERSONAL: Born March 17, 1943, in Philadelphia, PA; son of Benjamin (a factory worker) and Estelle (a homemaker and artist; maiden name, Amielanchic) Batory; married Joan Trybala (an environmental administrator), December 26, 1967. Education: La Salle University, B.A., 1964; Glassboro State University, M.A., 1970; University of Pennsylvania, certificate, 1984. Hobbies and other interests: Hiking, reading, American politics.

ADDRESSES: Home—2401 Pennsylvania Ave., No. 10C47, Philadelphia, PA 19130. E-mail—batoryjoe1@ verizon.net.

CAREER: Writer. English teacher at public schools in Camden, NJ, 1964–70; La Salle University, Philadelphia, PA, director of sports information, 1970–75; Upper Darby School District, Upper Darby, PA, director of communications, 1975–80, assistant superintendent, 1980–84, superintendent of schools, 1984–99; retired, 1999.

AWARDS, HONORS: Cited among top 100 educational administrators of America, Executive Educator, 1990; named superintendent of the year, Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, 1998; Lifetime Distinguished Service Award, American Association of School Administrators, 2000; Distinguished Service Award, Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators, 2000.

WRITINGS:

Yo! Joey! (autobiography), Scarecrow Education (Lanham, MD), 2000.

Joey's Story (autobiography), Scarecrow Education (Lanham, MD), 2000.

Joey Lets It All Hang Out (autobiography), Scarecrow Education (Lanham, MD), 2002.

WORK IN PROGRESS: Research on comprehensive school reform efforts.

SIDELIGHTS: Joseph P. Batory told CA: "I am a retired school superintendent, who has authored three very different sequential school leadership books that are insightful and thought-provoking for anyone who cares about public education in America. These books highlight many of my outrageous adventures during my fifteen-year career as a school chief executive officer. The trilogy confronts much of the political hypocrisy, distortion, and misinformation that surround America's public schools. These autobiographical accounts have deliberately been written in a non-academic style. At different times, the books are funny, angry, sarcastic, and cynical, but they are also filled with serious messages.

"I write first and foremost to counter the hypocrisy, distortion, and misinformation that surrounds public education in the United States of America. My many positive experiences with students, parents, teachers, and administrators in public schools has made me into an advocate for children and public schools and an enemy of self-serving politicians. Writing for me has been a catharsis … a way to fight back against those who would destroy public schools and the fulfillment of a need to share what I have experienced. My writing process is based in passion. I have had very strong feelings about what I wanted to communicate, so the writing was relatively easy."