With 30 years of experience in administrative and educational leadership, Dr. Bedden has developed a results-oriented reputation for improving academic performance, working with diverse groups, increasing community/business engagement, implementing systems thinking, and creating a positive school and work environment. He has demonstrated practical leadership skills in, but not limited to, standards and performance-based practices, human resource management, fiscal management, and community/business partnerships. Throughout his career, he has focused on improving efforts to serve the whole student by empowering staff, improving academic program offerings, equity of access, and supporting students' career and technical education preparation to help them become college, career, and life ready. For over 20 years of his career, he has had the privilege to serve as a Regional (Area) Superintendent or District Superintendent of Schools in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Texas, and Virginia, with student populations ranging from 5500 to 200,000 students, 750 to 5000 employees, overseeing as few as six to as many as 58 schools/campuses, with budgets between $72 million to $500 million. Dr. Bedden has served on several advisory committees and as an adjunct faculty member at several higher education institutions, teaching courses in educational leadership related to school law, principal preparation/certification, superintendent preparation/certification, teaching, and learning.

He holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), a master's degree in Educational Administration from Pennsylvania State University (Penn State), and a bachelor's degree from the University of Florida. He also completed the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate Certificate Strategic Leadership In Education program, Harvard University's Graduate School of Education Leadership Institute for Superintendents, and post-doctoral courses in School Business Leadership at Wilkes University.

In September 2020, Dr. Bedden was invited to serve as the Superintendent of Schools for Centennial School District (CSD) during one of the most challenging educational times. Some significant efforts have included working collaboratively to implement and maintain the board-approved Health and Safety Plan during the pandemic, guiding instructional changes to improve student outcomes, and expanding social-emotional, mental health, and virtual instructional opportunities. In addition, the school district embarked upon efforts to update its mission, vision, goals, and beliefs statements, implement new analytic tools to inform decisions related to both instruction and finances, and the launching of the Centennial Virtual Learning Academy (CVLA) while also participating as an inaugural member in the PA Department of Education and NCEE System Design Benchmarking program. Before joining CSD, he served as the Superintendent of Schools for Boyertown Area School District (BASD), PA. He led the school district's efforts to meet the needs of a changing school district, fiscal challenges, and implementation of systems thinking while also maintaining an academic performance that met or exceeded the current performance standards outlined by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. During his tenure, Dr. Bedden successfully negotiated a new teachers' contract and a new transportation contract while also addressing unresolved issues associated with the facility rightsizing/boundary rezoning process and athletic stadium renovations. In addition, each fiscal year ended with a budget surplus and improved fiscal ratings by auditors. The work in BASD also included efforts to introduce and implement social-emotional academic learning and trauma-informed schools.

 

His education career includes service as a High School Principal, Subschool Principal, Director of Athletics, and middle school teacher. He has extensive experience serving on local, state, and national committees, community and business organization boards, and several professional associations. He currently serves as a steering committee member for AASA/Howard University Urban Superintendent's Academy and has been an instructional facilitator. Dr. Bedden has been a keynote presenter, panelist, panel host, guest columnist, radio show participant, educational consultant, and advisor for several national organizations on various academic and leadership topics. He has published, contributed to, or been featured in several professional and local publications or newspapers, such as Phi Delta Kappa, ExecutiveEducation, District Administrator, SMARTBUSINESS, Reading Eagle, Comcast Newsmakers, and others.