Northern Lehigh School District has promoted from within to fill an eventual administrative vacancy.

The school board on a 7-0 vote Monday appointed David Hauser as the new principal at Northern Lehigh Middle School at a salary of $100,000, effective July 1.

Hauser expressed his gratitude upon his new appointment.

“I wanted to say thank you for the consideration this evening,” Hauser said. “I’m looking forward to jumping in as the middle school principal.”

Hauser specifically thanked several of his colleagues.

“I wanted to say thank you to the search committee, to the board, and also to the three principals who have mentored me in my time; specifically Mrs. (Jill) Chamberlain, Mr. (Robert) Vlasaty here at Northern Lehigh, and I have to give a shout to Mrs. (Sue) Howland up in Lehighton for grooming me for this position.

“Thank you for the consideration. I am honored and humbled.”

Board President Gary Fedorcha told Hauser he was unanimously chosen by the nominating committee.

Afterward, both Superintendent Matthew J. Link and Fedorcha congratulated Hauser on his appointment.

Hauser will succeed current middle school Principal Jill Chamberlain, who will retire from the district July 30 after nearly 15 years of service.

Chamberlain was hired in August 2006 after she served as assistant principal at Pleasant Valley Middle School. In August 2008, she was promoted to principal of Northern Lehigh Middle School.

Before her appointment, Chamberlain served as middle school/high school transition assistant principal.

Hauser, who was hired in July 2019 as secondary assistant principal, at a salary of $88,000, prorated, is a 2001 graduate of the district.

He replaced former Assistant High School Principal Tanya Simms after the board in June 2019 accepted her resignation, effective Aug. 16 of that year.

Simms was appointed as high school assistant principal in May 2013 at a salary of $80,000, effective Aug. 1 of that year. She began employment with the district in August 2004 as a health and physical education teacher.

Simms resigned to pursue endeavors outside of public education.

Hauser previously served as assistant principal at Lehighton Area High School, a position he had held for nearly two years, and was hired there at a salary of $72,000 to replace Jennifer Evans, who was hired in July 2017 as Lehighton Area Middle School principal. Before that, he was an English teacher at the high school.

Directors Mathias Green and Robin Distler were absent from Monday’s meeting.