N. Lehigh appoints music teacher as interim elementary principal

For the second time in three months, Northern Lehigh School District has tabbed a new principal at one of its elementary schools.

On an 8-0 vote, the school board on Monday accepted the resignation of Brian Kelly as principal of Peters Elementary School, effective July 18. Director Robert Keegan Jr. was absent.

The board then appointed high school music teacher James Schnyderite as the interim principal of Peters at a salary of $52.63 per day, effective July 24, terminating at the end of the first semester, Jan. 21, 2020, or upon hiring a permanent principal.

Schnyderite has served the past two years as a secondary music teacher in the school district. Overall, he has 19 years in education, 18 of which have been as a teacher, having previously served as a music teacher in New Jersey.

Superintendent Matthew J. Link said the administrative team and school board thought Schnyderite was the best candidate to fill the position with such a short amount of time left before the start of the new school year.

“So far, all indications are it was the right decision, as he has hit the ground running and made connections with the staff and parents at Peters,” Link said.

Schnyderite, of Nazareth, said he obtained his principal certification, and also completed his internship at Northern Lehigh.

“I’m thrilled to have this opportunity,” Schnyderite said. “This is now my fourth week, and every day has been awesome; I’m picking up the culture, climate and procedures of the school.”

He said he had a great chance to sit down with teachers earlier in the day, which only “added to the excitement.”

Schnyderite said he would have “great interest” in serving as the permanent principal at Peters.

“It’s been a great experience so far,” he said. “If the opportunity presented itself, I would jump at that.”

In a related matter, the board on Monday approved the memorandum of understanding of the Northern Lehigh Education Association Collective Bargaining Agreement. The language clarifies the role of an interim principal.

Kelly, 40, of Moscow, was appointed as principal at Peters in May at a salary of $97,000, prorated for the remainder of the 2018-19 school year, on or about June 24.

A Lackawanna County administrator at the time he was hired, Kelly most recently served as principal, Pre-K through sixth grade, at Forest City Regional Elementary School since July 2016.

After the meeting, Link explained Kelly’s decision to resign.

“He decided to make some changes he thought were best for his family,” Link said.

Former Peters Principal Paul Leonzi retired June 30 from the district after 35 years of service.

Leonzi began his tenure in the district as a teacher in 1984.

In June 2015, the board approved the administrative transfer of Leonzi from acting principal to principal, at a salary of $92,721.

Leonzi was named acting assistant principal at Peters in December 2013. He became acting principal in July 2014.

He was initially appointed acting assistant principal, and then acting principal, after former school Principal Paul Rearden began to experience health-related issues.