Tammy Recker has seen a lot in her years as a school board member in Palmerton Area School District.

Having served since 2011, Recker is calling it a career after 2023, but she’ll spend one more year with the gavel in her hand after unanimously being re-elected board president Tuesday.

“I want to thank everyone for all of their hard work over the past year,” Recker said. “I think we’ve put a lot of differences aside and are working as one team. I can’t be more thankful to be able to serve with such a wonderful group.”

Earl Paules, also by a unanimous vote, was re-elected as vice president.

Of particular note, Recker lauded her fellow directors for all of their work behind the scenes that often goes unnoticed.

“Our negotiations team is one of those key pieces that nobody really gets to see, but they have spent countless hours doing what they need to do,” Recker said. “We’ve also built very strong working relationships with Carbon Career and Technical Institute, the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit and Lehigh Carbon Community College.”

Also on Tuesday, Doris Zellers and Erin Snyder were appointed liaisons to the Pennsylvania School Boards Association for a one-year term and Stacey Connell was appointed to a one-year term as Carbon Career and Technical Institute alternate representative to the joint operating committee.

Recker, meanwhile, announced she would not run again with her term expiring at the end of 2023.

“It’s definitely going to be a year of transition for the board,” she said. “I encourage anyone who is thinking about running for the board to reach out with questions. We have some veterans here who I know would be happy to answer anything that comes their way.”

The Pennsylvania School Boards Association will be hosting four virtual programs, starting on Dec. 15, on the core considerations for those thinking about a run for school board.

Registration is available at https://www.psba.org/startingout. Palmerton Superintendent Dr. Jodi Frankelli will be one of the guest speakers.