Current State College Area School Board President Amber Concepcion has been selected to replace Michael Pipe as Centre County commissioner as Pipe prepares to leave for a job in Governor-elect Josh Shapiro’s administration.
Centre County President Judge Pamela Ruest appointed Concepcion, a Democrat, to fill Pipe’s unexpired term through the end of 2023, according to a release from the Board of Commissioners office. For vacancies on the Board of Commissioners, the Court of Common Pleas is tasked with an appointing a registered elector of the county to fill the unexpired term, and the appointee must be from the same party as the departing commissioner.
“I’m very excited for the opportunity and grateful to Judge Ruest and those who put their faith in me that I could be successful in this role,” Concepcion told StateCollege.com. “I’m certainly torn about leaving the State College Area School District, but I think the district is in good hands. I’m really excited about the challenge of learning a whole new set of government services and how to best provide those to the community.”
Concepcion, who was recommended for the commissioner appointment by the Centre County Democratic Committee, was first elected to the State College Area School Board in 2011 and has since been reelected twice. She has been president of the board for nine years.
Among other major initiatives, her tenure on the school board has included the design and construction of the new State College Area High School and three new elementary school buildings.
“During her tenure, the school district has achieved strong financial stability while prioritizing improvements to meet the needs of students and families,” the release from the commissioners’ office stated.
Concepcion is a graduate of State High, holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Penn State and earned a master’s degree in international politics with a concentration in security studies from Georgetown University. She and her husband own a web design and development business in State College.
Of her time on the school board, Concepcion said she is most proud of how the board and district administrators have kept the focus on what is best for students.
“All of the decisions that we’ve made over the past 11 years, I can honestly say that the needs of students and what is in the best interest of kids in our community has always been at the forefront,” she said. ‘I’m certainly very proud of the work that we’ve been able to do on providing new updated facilities throughout our district. Facilities are important but what is most important is the learning and the relationships between teachers and students inside of those buildings. One of the things I think we have had some significant improvement on over the last 11 years has been in really focusing on how we can support teachers and their work with students and making sure they have what they need to be successful.”
Shapiro’s transition team announced on Thursday that Pipe would become deputy chief of staff for public safety in the new governor’s administration.
Pipe was elected to three terms as a county commissioner and has been chair of the board since 2016. He said on Thursday that his resignation will be effective Jan. 14.
“We thank Commissioner Pipe for his 11 years of service to Centre County Government and the citizens of Centre County,” the commissioners’ office release said. “We wish him luck in his new position with Governor Josh Shapiro’s administration.”
Current Vice-Chair Mark Higgins will succeed Pipe as chair. Republican Steve Dershem is the minority member of the three-commissioner board.
For the school board, the remaining eight members will be charged with appointing a replacement to fill the last year of Concepcion’s elected term within 30 days of her departure.
