Palmerton hires interim principal for high school

A recently retired Nazareth Middle School principal will serve in the same role on a temporary basis at Palmerton Area High School.

On Tuesday night, Palmerton’s school board hired Bob Kern as acting high school principal for the 2018-19 school year at a rate of $450 per day.

Kern will oversee the day-to-day duties as high school Principal Paula Husar remains suspended without pay.

“I’m here to make sure the high school is moving forward,” Kern said. “For however long I’m here, I’ll be up for the task and do the best job I can do.”

Husar has multiple lawsuits against the district and Superintendent Scot Engler.

After Husar went out in September 2017, the district moved junior high school Principal Rich DeSocio to the high school in an acting principal role.

In March 2018, the district moved DeSocio back to the junior high, and hired John Gilly and Gloria Bowman to split the acting principal duties for the remainder of the school year.

Under Kern’s leadership as principal, the Nazareth Area Middle School earned a National Green Ribbon Award, a National Blue Ribbon Award, and the Governor’s Award for Academic Excellence. Kern also was named the Terrance H. Bell, National Principal of the Year in 2015 by the United States Department of Education.

Before his stint in Nazareth, Kern was an assistant principal in the Northern Lehigh School District.

“Bob brings with him a wealth of experience and a glowing resume,” Engler said Tuesday night.

Other personnel moves

Palmerton also started filling out its teacher vacancies Tuesday night with the hiring of four elementary teachers. They include Rachel Harry, $46,250; Brianna Bush, $46,250; Adrienne Pelo, $46,750; Tyler Svetik, $46,250; and Kristina Himmelwright, $46,250, all effective Aug. 28.

Susan Dellicker was hired as high school German teacher at $47,750 Amanda Cappella as high school special education teacher at $47,750; and Erin DeWitt as a high school instructional aide at a rate of $14.91 per hour, all effective Aug. 28.

Four Palmerton teachers attained more than three years of satisfactory performance ratings, qualifying them for tenure.

They are Lindsey Heinrich, Elizabeth Karb, Christopher Kimmel and David O’Brien.