Joe Batory was the Upper Darby (PA) School District's Superintendent of Schools from 1984 to 1999 when he retired. He has been recognized for his numerous accomplishments as a public school leader with the Distinguished Lifetime Service Award from the American Association of School Administrators (2000). Additionally, in 1990, he was named as one of The Executive Educator 100, a group of only 100 outstanding school leaders chosen from North America's 300,000 school administrators by a distinguished panel of independent jurors, all expert in the field.

Batory was cited with the Pennsylvania Music Educators 1997 Superintendent of the Year award for his outstanding support of music programs in public schools. He has also received the 1998 Friend of Journalism award from the Pennsylvania School Press Association.

His service to children has been recognized with other awards from the Rotary Club of Upper Darby (1999 and 1989), the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce (1999), the Study Councils of the University of Pennsylvania (1999), the Delaware County Intermediate Unit (1999), the Patriotic Order of Sons of America (1992), the Upper Darby Teachers Association (1999), Transport Workers Union Local 289 (1999), the Upper Darby Administrators and Supervisors Association (1999), the Upper Darby Educational Support Personnel (1999), the Drexel Hill Baptist Church (1999), and the National School Public Relations Association (1989).

Yo Joey! Whassup?!

(Article from the News of Delaware County, Philadelphia), April 5, 2000

His life so far is told in chapters entitled "The Taxpayer Group Bloodbath," "The Assassination Plot!" and "God, How I Hate Snow!" His career tells of clashes with Nazis, governors, and the news media.

Former Upper Darby Superintendent of Schools Joseph P. Batory was joined by friends and colleagues last week as he autographed copies of his first book, "Yo! Joey!" Batory, who lives in Drexel Park, stood in Delaware County Community College last week and spoke to a steady stream of well-wishers. Batory retired in June after almost 15 years as Superintendent of Schools in the Upper Darby School District. His book is subtitled "The unique memoirs of an unusual school superintendent."

"It's about what it is to be a leader," Batory said of his book. "It's a roller coaster ride." People had been encouraging Batory to write a book, he said. The writing took three months, while the editing took another three. "Yo! Joey!" is dedicated to his wife, Joan, and his father, Benjamin. The Southwest Philadelphia native taught in Camden and spent time at LaSalle University before arriving at Upper Darby School District in 1975. The former superintendent took a few minutes last week to read from chapters of his book and recount his first day in 1984 as the district's sixth superintendent of schools.

"It felt great. I came a long way from the streets of Southwest Philadelphia," Batory quoted from his book. "If the guys from the school yard could see me now." That first day, he got a phone call from Guido, a bookie he had known since childhood. He idolized Guido as a kid, but avoided his calls for days, thinking the bookie would want to use the school district to further his gambling operation. Finally, Batory took Guido's call.

"Joey, I'm just so unbelievably proud of you-someone from our neighborhood making it so far," Guido told Batory.

Batory recalled one time early in his Upper Darby tenure when he was recognized by a couple at a diner who said they loved the job he was doing. "I know who you are-Congressman Edgar, you're so kind," the couple told Batory. He played along with their request for an autograph and signed it "Congressman Bob Edgar."

"Yo! Joey!" has garnered positive reviews from Batory's colleagues in education. Batory was not like some "soldiers returning from combat," who would never tell "what it was like to walk in those hallowed wingtips," Gary mark, president of the Center for Public Outreach in Vienna, VA, said in his review. When he first became a superintendent, one of Batory's colleagues told him his best bet would be to be "invisible" during his tenure and settle into a comfortable retirement. Batory said he wasn't hearing any of it. "If I thought something was wrong, I spoke out about it," Batory said. "I stood up for the kids."