Kiski Township's Bill Kerr receives distinguished educator award from Pitt

The University of Pittsburgh honored alumnus Bill Kerr of Kiski Township with the Distinguished PreK-12 Educator Award.

An awards ceremony at which Kerr was to be honored in March was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, but he received the actual award — an engraved University of Pittsburgh crystal bowl — this week.

Kerr, 68, worked in education for more than four decades, serving as a teacher, principal and district administrator. He worked in the Kiski Area, Leechburg Area, Apollo-Ridge, Armstrong and Norwin school districts before retiring in June 2019.

“I thought basically, ‘I’m done,’” Kerr said.

Kerr, a former Apollo mayor and Armstrong County commissioner, has remained busy in retirement. He has worked as an educational consultant, served as vice president of the Westmoreland County Community College Board of Trustees and volunteered at Apollo Cemetery and Apollo First Lutheran Church.

Kerr’s honor was part of the University of Pittsburgh School of Education’s annual Distinguished Alumni Awards. He earned a doctorate from Pitt, along with a bachelor’s degree from what is now Slippery Rock University and a master’s from Duquesne University.

The Distinguished PreK-12 Educator Award is bestowed upon Pitt graduates with more than 10 years of professional experience in preK-12 education. The award recognizes a PreK-12 educator for outstanding accomplishments in the classroom, administration, support services and extracurricular activities and programs.

“For more than 40 years, he has worked to support the health, well-being and academic achievements of the children and families in his Western Pennsylvania school districts,” said Valerie Kinloch, dean of Pitt’s School of Education.

Matthew P. Thomas, student services director of the Westmoreland County Intermediate Unit, and a Pitt alumnus, nominated Kerr for the award.

“Throughout his career as an educational and community leader, Dr. Kerr has consistently demonstrated a commitment to advocacy for children and youth and a devotion to public service as a way of life,” Thomas said.

Looking back at his tenure and themes, Kerr said he still believes that good schools are a great investment and “effective teachers have an immortal influence on children and youth.”

Kerr thanked his wife Debra and family; Maureen McClure, chair of Kerr’s dissertation committee and a Riverview School Board member; and the many students, teachers and administrators he has known over the years.