Palmerton Area School District has zeroed in on its next superintendent and plans to make the hire during a virtual school board meeting Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Dr. Jodi Frankelli, pending final contract negotiation, is set to take the position on July 1.

Frankelli is currently the supervisor of Early Learning, Grants and Development in the Bethlehem Area School District.

“When I was selected, I was ecstatic,” Frankelli said. “It really is a dream come true. I am looking forward to serving the Palmerton community, students and families, staff, and administration as the new superintendent. There is a strong tradition of excellence in the Palmerton Area School District, and I look forward to leading the district as we work collaboratively to advance the district’s goals.”

Frankelli was previously a middle school English teacher in the East Stroudsburg and Nazareth school districts, a high school English teacher for Project Upward Bound at East Stroudsburg University, an adjunct professor at Wilkes University, a middle school assistant principal in the Pen Argyl School District and an elementary principal in the Bethlehem Area School District.

“Dr. Frankelli emerged after a very thorough process that included input from district administration, teachers, staff, students and community members," Board President Kathy Fallow said. The board is excited and ready to work with Dr. Frankelli. Our district will be in good hands.”

The search

The board of education began its search process with 21 applicants from across the state. Seven candidates were selected for initial interviews, from which three finalists were chosen. On Feb. 5, the district hosted a public event at the high school to introduce the finalists to the community. Community members had an opportunity to view presentations prepared by each finalist and to hear the board ask questions of each candidate. Those attending had an opportunity to fill out surveys and offer comments on their impressions of each candidate.

During the week of Feb. 10, each candidate spent a day in the Palmerton district, meeting staff members, touring the district schools and participating in interviews conducted by administrators, teachers, staff and students.

“Throughout the interview process and building tours, it was evident that the students, staff, and administration were extremely passionate and proud of the district’s traditions and community,” Frankelli said. “Principals were excited to showcase what made their school unique and highlight the successes of their students and teachers. Teachers invited me into their classrooms, which made me feel very comfortable and welcomed. It showed me that there is a true desire to work together and build relationships so that the success of our students is always at the forefront of what we do as a district.”

Surveys were collected from all stakeholder groups for the board to review prior to final interviews on Feb. 16.

“Stakeholder input, both from the schools and from the community during the superintendent search was a key factor in the success of the search process,” Fallow said. “We greatly appreciate the time these people took to give us their input. It helped set up the process by which the three finalists were evaluated and was used by the school board as we made our final decision.”

Dr. Alan Lonoconus has been working as Palmerton’s interim superintendent since October.

Perfect fit

Working as a superintendent has been a lifelong goal for Frankelli and Palmerton, she said, felt like the perfect fit.

“It was really important to me to make sure that I shared a common vision and mindset when looking for potential school districts,” she said. “I wanted to find a district that would value and appreciate my experiences and view them as strengths that would be beneficial for future growth. From the moment I met with the school board during my first interview, the Palmerton Area School District felt like home to me.”

Frankelli said she’ll be no stranger around Palmerton’s schools and in the community.

“This will allow me to engage with students, teachers, administrators, and families so that they have the opportunity to provide their feedback and input in the district,” she said. “This is how trusting, collaborative relationships are created. In addition to meeting with key personnel in the district, I would also like to meet with students and families, community leaders, business owners, and government representatives. Making connections with the local media will be another goal because I would like to find ways to highlight and showcase the wonderful work that is occurring in the Palmerton Area School District.”

COVID-19 challenge

Frankelli will be taking the reins at a time with much uncertainty for all districts around the state as fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic continues. She aims to look at the plans that have been in place during the current district closure to see what has been working well and where changes may need to take place as things move forward.

“When preparing for the start of the 2020-21 school year, at this point we just do not know if schools will be completely open like they were a few months ago, so we need to have contingency plans in place to address all possibilities,” she said.

Getting a grasp on the financial stability of the district will be one of the first items on the checklist.

“Our state revenue will decrease as a result of the current closure, so we need to look at that carefully as we plan for the 20-21 school year,” she said. “We need to work through these challenging fiscal circumstances so that we can continue meeting the needs of our students in the best way possible.”