Robert Scherrer Ed.D.
Executive Director, Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU)
2022, 2023
Dr. Scherrer currently serves as the Executive Director of the Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU). The AIU is a regional education services agency and a crucial part of Pennsylvania’s public education system. As its mission states, the AIU is an educational community that advocates and advances equitable opportunities for every learner. The AIU employs nearly 1,200 educators, administrators and support staff who provide specialized services to Allegheny County’s 42 suburban school districts as well as non-public, charter and career and technical schools. The agency serves as a liaison with the Pennsylvania Department of Education and proudly operates three schools for exceptional children, 10 family centers and approximately 130 programs for children, adults and families in the region. Since joining the AIU, Dr. Scherrer has focused much of his time on the development and implementation of a new strategic plan and supporting school entities throughout the region as they navigate the complexities of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Previously, Dr. Scherrer was the Superintendent of the North Allegheny School District. North Allegheny is consistently recognized as one of the top school districts in the United States. He first joined North Allegheny in 2013 as the Assistant Superintendent of K-12 Education, later became the Acting Superintendent, and was named Superintendent in 2016. During his tenure, his efforts focused on the development and implementation of the Measuring Success Framework, a more holistic way of framing school success beyond traditional test scores and rankings. This Framework focuses on Achievement and Growth, Future Preparation, School Climate, and Student and Staff Wellness. In addition, he facilitated the development and implementation of FOCUS 2020, an effort to transform the learning environment for students by providing a 1:1 computing environment, equitable access to technology resources across the district, and providing appropriate instructional and technical support to staff to support a modern learning environment.
Prior to his time at North Allegheny, Dr. Scherrer served as an administrator in the Pittsburgh Public School District; first as the Principal of Allderdice High School and then as the founding Principal of the Pittsburgh Science and Technology Academy, a grades 6-12 magnet school focusing on STEM education. He also served as an administrator in the Peters Township and Woodland Hills School Districts and began his career as a teacher at Baldwin High School where he won the Pennsylvania Business Educator of the Year Award and developed an award-winning entrepreneurship program.
Dr. Scherrer received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Education, a Master of Education in Business Education, and his Principal’s Certification from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He earned his Superintendent’s Letter of Eligibility and Doctor of Education in Administrative and Policy Studies from the University of Pittsburgh, where his dissertation focused on teacher evaluation.
Over the years Dr. Scherrer has been an active member of numerous professional organizations and associations and presented at several national, state, and regional conferences. He has also received a number of professional awards and recognitions during his career. Dr. Scherrer and his wife, Jen, currently live in the Pittsburgh area and are the proud parents of two children, Olivia and Max.
At the Summit
The Summit was more than empty words – it made clear that a solution-driven approach is the only way to fight hate. That’s why the working group activities, which are results driven are going to be critical in defeating violent extremism. The Summit brought together the best minds in government, private sector, academia, and civil society. Being surrounded by these experts sparked new ideas – some of which I’ve already implemented or have written about.
