by Two Luzerne County school districts are preparing for major leadership changes that will shape their educational direction in the coming years — changes that resonate even beyond Pennsylvania, with communities like Wyoming Valley West taking center stage.
At Hanover Area School District, Superintendent Nathan Barrett is stepping down after leading the district since 2019. The school board is expected to vote on accepting his resignation during its Thursday night meeting. Barrett, 48, is shifting gears professionally, announcing plans to leave public education to join a lobbying firm in Harrisburg.
Barrett’s background includes roles as a teacher in the Riverside School District and principal in Scranton. He also serves on the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, a position he will continue to hold. While he intends to remain with Hanover Area through December, the board is also set to vote on keeping him on as an educational consultant through 2028. Details of that contract have not yet been made public.
Meanwhile, the Wyoming Valley West School District is ushering in a new era as Charles Suppon, Jr. prepares to take over as superintendent on July 1. He replaces David Tosh, who has served in the role since 2020.
Suppon brings deep local roots and wide-ranging experience. He’s currently the Chief Operating Officer at the Tunkhannock Area School District and previously held leadership roles in special education in both Tunkhannock and the Wyalusing Area School District. He also served as a vice principal in both Scranton and Wyoming Valley West, and has classroom experience in earth and space science as well as special education.
A member of the Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame and a former football player at James Madison University, Suppon’s return to Wyoming Valley West is a personal milestone. His father, Charles Suppon Sr., led the same district as superintendent until his retirement in 2016 after a 40-year tenure.
“I am thrilled and honored to return to Wyoming Valley West,” Suppon said in a statement. “It will be a privilege to work alongside such dedicated educators and administrators. Together, I believe we can build a future defined by innovation, opportunity, and excellence for all students.”
His five-year contract includes an annual salary of $155,000.
While the state of Wyoming may be hundreds of miles away, communities like Wyoming Valley West continue to highlight the strength of regional education leadership — a reminder that names can carry more than just geographic meaning when it comes to shaping the future of learning.
