AllentownSchool District

ASD Celebrates National School Director Recognition Month

ASD Celebrates National School Director Recognition Month
Posted on 01/24/2019
The Allentown School District recognizes the incredible contribution made by our locally elected Board of Directors. These individuals advocate on behalf of our schools, students and the entire Allentown community. 

President, Ms. Audrey Mathison
Board President Audrey Mathison is a life-long educator who recently retired from teaching English in the Parkland School District. Ms. Mathison was elected to the board in 2016. She serves on a number of committees and is a member of the Allentown School District Foundation Board. As a former teacher, Ms. Mathison is a strong advocate for personalized learning and instruction in the classroom and is committed to providing our students with the tools and resources they need to be successful. 

Vice President, Ms. Elizabeth Martinez 
Vice President of the Board Elizabeth Martinez has served the students of the Allentown School District since 2014 and is a proud graduate of William Allen High School. She is a strong believer in meaningful collaboration between the District, communities and families. Ms. Martinez is a currently a legislative assistant for the office of State Representative Pete Schweyer who represents the 22nd District. 

Member, Mr. Charlie F. Thiel
Charlie Thiel joined the board in 2013 and is committed to replicating the positive growth we have seen in our city in ASD schools. Mr. Thiel is the founder / CEO of Thiel Strategic Communications. He sits on the board for the Allentown School District Foundation and a number of committees including finance and education/technology. Mr. Thiel was most recently the board president for the 2017-2018 school year. 

Member, Ms. Ce-Ce Gerlach
Ce-Ce Gerlach not just a board member, but a product of the Allentown School District, graduating from William Allen High School. She was elected to the board in 2011 and served as Vice President of the Board for the last two years. Ms. Gerlach is a strong advocate for family and community engagement and aims to empower residents to have their voices heard. She represents ASD on the Public Library Board and City Recreation Committee. 

Member, Ms. Phoebe Harris
Phoebe Harris or “Ms. Phoebe” to the kids, was recently elected to the board in 2017. She is also an ASD parent – her son is currently a senior at Allen High School and will graduate this June. Ms. Harris loves visiting ASD classrooms and learning more about the ways our teachers are preparing students to be college and career ready.  

Member, Ms. Lisa Conover
A New Jersey native, Lisa is a current real estate agent in the Lehigh Valley with Keller Williams. She was elected to the ASD Board of Directors in 2017. As the chair of the Safety Task Force, Lisa is committed to cultivating a culture in the Allentown School District where students feel safe, valued and nurtured. 

Member, Ms. Cheryl Johnson-Watts
Cheryl Johnson-Watts joined the ASD Board in 2017 and has been a resident in the city since 2012. She is a Princeton University graduate and is passionate about early college and career exposure in ASD. Ms. Johnson-Watts is active in the community represents ASD on the city’s Human Relations Commission and Wellness Committees. 

Member, Mr. Robert E. Smith Jr.
Robert E. Smith Jr is the longest-tenured member of the ASD Board with almost 15 years of experience. He has served on a number of committees and as president from 2011-2015. Mr. Smith is passionate about career and technical education and has long represented ASD on the LCTI Joint Operating Committee. Mr. Smith has lead the charge in creating new and innovating learning spaces for ASD students including the new elementary school which will open in 2020 and the Learning Dome, scheduled to open this fall. 

Member, Ms. Sara Jane Brace
Sara Jane Brace appointed to the board in 2017 and was successfully elected later that year. She is a Pre-K teacher at The Children’s Center with Volunteers of America and believes that high-quality early childhood education in the Lehigh Valley will ultimately lead to later success for students in grades K-12. Before teaching Ms. Brace served as the Executive Director of the Liberty Bell Museum in downtown Allentown.