• 211 teachers

• 2,363 students• East Penn Elementary (K-4)• Mahoning Elementary (K-4)• Shull-David Elementary (K-4)• Franklin Elementary (K-4)• Lehighton Area Middle School (5-8)• Lehighton Area High School (9-12)Lehighton Area School District Assistant to the Superintendent Tim Tkach gave an overview of the district.Changes“Our top item in the district is the STEAM program/curriculum that we are expanding and implementing at all levels, K-12,” Tkach said. “We are expanding the FOSS Science program and have installed the new SmartLab at the high school.”Instead of a lecture-style learning environment, students can do hands-on work at their own pace in the areas that interest them the most.Topic areas within the SmartLab include alternative and renewable energy, circuitry, computer graphics, digital communications, mechanics and structures, robotics and control technology, scientific data and analysis, and software engineering.What the district is most excited for in the new school year:“The district is most excited about the constant challenge of increasing our test scores and improving the growth of all students,” Tkach said. “We are constantly reviewing and analyzing data to see how we can improve our teaching strategies and curriculum to meet the needs of all students. We take it very seriously to find and meet the different strategies that will help each child.”Challenges“Our biggest challenge for the 2017-18 school year is making sure we are adapting and meeting all of the new requirements under the new Every Student Succeeds Act plan,” Tkach said.— Jarrad Hedes