Allentown, PA – April 24, 2025– At its Regular Board Meeting held on Thursday, April 24, 2025, the Allentown School District School Board of Directors approved several key administrative appointments that reflect both strategic recruitment and the promotion of dedicated internal leaders.
Mr. Jesse Walck has been named Executive Director of Financial Planning. Walck brings more than a decade of financial management experience to the District, most recently serving as Business Manager for Panther Valley School District. A U.S. Air Force veteran, Mr. Walck holds a master’s degree in School Business Leadership from Wilkes University and a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Temple University. He is a recipient of the 2023 ASBO International Pinnacle Award for Excellence in School Business Operations.
Ms. Christine Swan has been appointed Accounting Manager. Ms. Swan is a highly skilled accountant with approximately 10 years of experience in financial roles across both the private and public sectors. She earned a Master of Science in Accounting from Keller Graduate School of Management at DeVry University, where she also obtained a Bachelor of Science in Accounting.
In addition to welcoming new team members, the District is proud to announce four internal leaders have been appointed as permanent principals, building on their success in acting roles:
- Ms. Kristyn Senneca will continue to provide leadership at the Ruby Bridges Elementary School. With a strong background in instructional leadership and student advocacy, Ms. Senneca is building a strong foundation of academic and social-emotional success for our youngest learners. She is a member of the Early Learning Cohort through the AASA, trained in Data Wise, and is a District Google Ambassador.
- Ms. Telsa Sparks will serve as the Principal of Ramos Elementary School. She brings more than 15 years of experience in school improvement, professional development, and innovative curriculum design. Ms. Sparks previously served as the Assistant School Leader at Building 21 High School, working to improve graduation rates, career readiness benchmarks, and student attendance.
- Ms. Vashanna Fraser has been appointed Principal of Roosevelt Elementary School. Ms. Fraser has served the District in several leadership roles. She has a strong record of fostering inclusive learning environments, supporting staff professional development, and creating inclusive initiatives across the school community. Ms Fraser is also a proud alumnus of William Allen High School.
- Mr. John Paul Crescenzo has been a part of the Muhlenberg Elementary School Learning Community since October 2022 and has served in the acting role since last spring. He brings extensive leadership experience at both the elementary and middle school levels, in the public and parochial settings. Mr. Crescenzo has led school-wide instructional improvement using the Data Wise Process and is a part of the District’s Innovation Committee and is a Google Ambassador.
“We are proud to welcome these talented leaders to their new roles,” said Dr. Carol D. Birks, Superintendent & Chief Executive Officer. “Each individual brings a deep commitment to our students, our schools, and the goals outlined in our Strategic Plan, Lighting the Way: A Blueprint for Innovation and Excellence 2030. These appointments reflect our continued investment in leadership, whether that is recruiting top talent from outside of Allentown or elevating our own leaders from within.”
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