Allentown, PA – March 28, 2025– At its Thursday, March 20, 2025, Regular School Board of Directors Meeting, the Allentown School District School Board of Directors approved the appointment of Ms. Kathryn Zimmermann as the District’s new Director of Data and Performance Management. This appointment marks a significant milestone in the District’s ongoing efforts to foster a data-driven culture focused on informed decision-making and student success.
Ms. Zimmermann joins the District through its recently established partnership with Harvard University’s Strategic Data Project (SDP) Fellowship, a program dedicated to training data strategists who take on critical analytic projects for school districts. As part of this initiative, Dr. Zimmermann will lead the development of a robust data infrastructure that will track and assess progress toward the goals outlined in the District’s Strategic Plan Lighting the Way: A Blueprint for Innovation and Excellence 2030, while also supporting the School Quality Review Process.
“We are thrilled to welcome Ms. Zimmermann to our leadership team,” said Dr. Carol D. Birks, Superintendent and Chief Executive Officer of Allentown School District. “Her expertise in quantitative research, data analysis, and educational policy will be invaluable as we work to build a more robust, sophisticated, and accessible data system. Through this partnership with Harvard’s SDP Fellowship, we are taking a major step forward in ensuring that our District has the best tools and insights to support student achievement.”
Zimmermann is completing a Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Science from The Ohio State University, where she also received her Master's degree, specializing in quantitative research, evaluation, and measurement. She has extensive experience in educational research and policy analysis, having previously worked as a Graduate Research Assistant at The Ohio State University and as a Clinical Research Specialist at the Brazelton Touchpoints Center at Boston Children’s Hospital.
Additionally, Ms. Freya de Conde will join Sheridan Elementary School as Acting Assistant Principal. She currently serves as a Supervisor of Instruction within the District, supporting the District with professional learning, and curriculum writing and will analyze student outcome and performance data, and support instructional planning and delivery across a PreK-12. Ms. de Conde previously worked in the Salisbury School District as an Interim Assistant Principal, Department Chair, and English Teacher.
Ms. de Conde is pursuing her doctoral degree in education at Immaculata University, holds a master’s degree in Secondary Education from DeSales University, and earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh. She is also a proud alumna of William Allen High School.
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