On Thursday, June, 4, 2026 the Allentown School District hosted its final You Are the Light Celebration of the year at Scottish Rite Cathedral. Parents, students, staff, and community members were met with performances by the William Allen High School Jazz Band, Jackson Early Childhood Center Tiny Tappers, Ruby Bridges Early Childhood Center Hippity Hoppers, and the William Allen High School Dance Academy.
This recent celebration commemorated the end of the school year, the retirement of our hardworking and impactful staff members, and staff who have been with us for an ongoing consecutive 25 years. More than 200 individuals within our learning community were honored as You are the Light of the Year recipients for their schools.
Each category highlighted represents ways ASD honors and celebrates members of the school community for their service to the school, achievements, and milestones. Please help us congratulate the following recipients:
Retirees:
- Samira Awad, Ritter Elementary School
- Valiann Bigatel, William Allen High School
- Keith Bossons, Trexler Middle School
- Dawn Boyer, Harrison-Morton Middle School
- Graciela Cano, Admin Center
- Leslie Corbett, Trexler Middle School
- Laurie Ann Culkins, William Allen High School
- Salwa Dabboura, Mosser Elementary School
- Eunice Dodson, Ramos Elementary School
- Colleen Dymond, Dieruff High School
- Tracey Fenstermaker, Jefferson Elementary School
- Patricia M. Ferraro, Washington Elementary School
- Anne Franklin-Ledyard, Sheridan/Hays Elementary School
- Connie Ganey, William Allen High School
- Paul Gensiak, William Penn Alternative School
- Lina Georges, Mosser Elementary School
- Mary Gibiser, Roosevelt Elementary School
- Carmen Gomez, Ramos Elementary
- Stuart Haas, Trexler Middle School
- Zena Hall, Ritter Elementary School
- Marc Hissam, William Allen High School
- Kristine Horn, William Allen High School
- Susan Hubler, Lehigh Parkway Elementary School
- Cynthia Ilgenfritz, Dodd Elementary School
- Laurie Kalson, William Allen High School
- John Keet, District Wide
- Hanan Khallouf, Sheridan Elementary School
- Melissa D. Kiefer, William Allen High School
- Diane Kirkpatrick, Hays Elementary School
- Karol Kleppinger, Ritter Elementary School/ Sonia Sotomayor Dual Language Immersion Academy
- Kirk Kressly, Maintenance Warehouse
- Michael Landis, Maintenance Warehouse
- Elisabeth Larson, Central Stream Academy
- Rosimar Lloyd, Harrison-Morton Middle School
- Jeffrey Lumsden, Ritter Elementary School
- Timothy Lutterschmidt, William Allen High School
- Julia Macadam, Admin Center
- Maria Maclellan, Trexler Middle School
- Ileana Matos-Ramos, William Allen High School
- Wendy McClung, Admin Center
- Cherri Missimer, Trexler Middle School
- Thomas Mort, Hays Elementary School
- William Nieves, Union Terrace Elementary School
- Karen Nilson, William Allen High School
- Madeline Olmeda, South Mountain Middle School
- Suzanne Ortiz, Jackson Early Childhood Center
- Steven Patterson, William Allen High School
- Vivian Pryce, South Mountain Middle School
- David Quatrone, Dieruff High School
- Tracy Rabenold, William Allen High School
- Matina Rabert, Admin Center
- Andrawas Rabih, Ritter Elementary School
- Regina Remaly, Mosser Elementary School
- Sheila Riddick, Trexler Middle School
- Caroline Sickonic, Harrison-Morton Middle School
- Rita Uhl, Sonia Sotomayor Dual Language Immersion Academy
- Rosa Vasquez, Washington Elementary School
- Jo Ann Wentzel-Manjarrez, District Wide
- Patricia Wilburn, Dodd Elementary School
- Patricia Williams, Ritter Elementary School
- Carl Yeates, Bridgeview Academy
- Risharde Yurick, Harrison-Morton Middle School
- Carmen Zabala, Admin Center
- Laura Zaharakis, Ramos Elementary School
- Maria Zettlemoyer, Ramos Elementary School
- Barbara Zotter, Trexler Middle School
25+ Years of Service:
- Lisa C. Argeson, William Allen High School
- Krysta Barlok, William Allen High School
- Christopher W. Bender, Dieruff High School
- Scott D. Bittner, Washington Elementary School
- Kimberly Burke, South Mountain Middle School
- Jennifer A. Carter, William Penn Alternative School
- Patricia Costello, Hays Elementary School
- Laurie Ann Culkins, William Allen High School
- Steven M. Denny, William Allen High School
- Frank G. Disimoni, Union Terrace Elementary School
- Betty Dodson, Mosser Elementary School
- Juan M. Enriquez, South Mountain Middle School
- Brian K. Essig, William Allen High School
- Nadia Georges, William Allen High School
- Jessica L. Harris, Dieruff High School
- Lori C. Hertzog, William Allen High School
- Brian J. Hinkle, Raub Middle School
- Nicole Jaikes, Mosser Elementary School
- Carol M. Jepson, Harrison-Morton Middle School
- Hanan Khallouf, Sheridan Elementary School
- Christopher J. Kinane, William Allen High School
- Julian Macadam, Administration Building
- Anissah M. Makari, Sheridan Elementary School
- Jarrad P. Max, William Allen High School
- Paul J. Mchugh, Dieruff High School
- Tammy A. Melchior, Ritter Elementary School
- Jason Monaco, Dieruff High School
- Deborah Moyer, Roosevelt Elementary School
- Marie J. Nemes, Ritter Elementary School
- Jessica Oswald, Lehigh Parkway Elementary School
- Vivian J. Pryce, South Mountain Middle School
- Kecia L. Rowlands, Ramos Elementary School
- Lourdes Z. Sanchez, District Wide
- Lori J. Smith, Muhlenberg Elementary School
- Veronica Smith, South Mountain Middle School
- Kristy E. Stefanyak, South Mountain Middle School
- Catherine A. Stombaugh, Roosevelt Elementary School
- Kyle Keith Warmkessel, William Allen High School
- Melissa M. Weierbach, Lehigh Parkway Elementary School
- Mary Wetherhold, Central Stream Academy
- Stacianne Yeager, Ramos Elementary School
- Rouz J. Younes, Harrison-Morton Middle School
- Rachel B. Zane, William Allen High School
- Marcia R. Zillitto, Muhlenberg Elementary School
Honorable mentions for 30 Years of Service:
- Tina A. Conway, William Allen High School
- Kimberly Marie Santiago, William Penn Alternative School
- Jennifer M. Teti, Washington Elementary School
35 Years of Service:
- Charlene Rohn, Muhlenberg Elementary School
This year, we pause to honor the cherished members of our school community whose lives left an impact on the Allentown School District and community.
In Memoriam:
- Joseph Kovacs
- Milagro Negron
- Lakemma Pointer
- Keith Verdi
Superintendent’s Reading League:
- Top Staff Readers
- Rebekah Davis, Raub Middle School
- Cassandra King, Ritter Elementary School
- Jennifer Laudenslager, Raub Middle School
- Top Secondary Readers
- Jose Alvarado, Trexler Middle School
- Isabella Acosta-Lemos, Trexler Middle School
- Robert Zammie, Raub Middle School
- Top Elementary Readers
- Yeysell Santos, Hays Elementary School
- DeJana Gaynair, Hays Elementary School
- Noah Hunt, Jefferson Elementary School
- Top Elementary Schools
- Jefferson Elementary School
- Ritter Elementary School
- Hays Elementary School
- Top Secondary Schools
- Trexler Middle School
- Raub Middle School
- Harrison-Morton Middle School
- 2025-2026 Beanstack Champion
- Kimberly Vargas, Trexler Middle School
Student of the Year:
- Jesus Vasquez Angarita, Roosevelt Elementary School
- Eva Concepcion, Lehigh Parkway Elementary School
- Araceliz De Leon Penaloza, Jackson Early Childhood Center
- Anabelle Fingal, Dodd Elementary School
- Emani Fisher, Central Elementary School
- Yanimarie Gomez, Jefferson Elementary School
- Moriah-Jade (MJ) Goode, Ritter Elementary School
- Kasin Hassett, Raub Middle School
- Aniya Holder, Dieruff High School
- Mahya Jimenez Perez, Ruby Bridges Early Childhood Center
- Natalya Johnson, Sonia Sotomayor Dual Language Immersion Academy
- Yulianny Manzueta, Muhlenberg Elementary School
- Kayleanna Mcaddley, William Penn (Alternative Education)
- Rahmattulah Mdade, South Mountain Middle School
- Princess Moore, Trexler Middle School
- Kayla Nassar, Harrison-Morton Middle School
- Kerlis Ochoa Castillo, Bridgeview Academy
- Aulani Pausinger, Union Terrace Elementary School
- Brianna Potter, William Allen High School
- Charlotte Rivas Hernandez, Washington Elementary School
- Ernesto Rodriguez, Sheridan Elementary School
- Jayda Rodriguez, Virtual Campus
- Clarice Smith, Mosser Elementary School
- Julian Torres, Hays Elementary School
- Allison Wipp Reyes, Ramos Elementary School
Support Staff of the Year:
- Taylor Baggest, Jefferson Elementary School
- Miguel Bermudez, Jackson Early Childhood Center
- Clementina Bogarin, Central Elementary School
- Kelsey Casilla, Washington Elementary School
- GiGi Diehl, Ruby Bridges Early Childhood Center
- Letoya Drummond, Dodd Elementary School
- Jarey Elder, Bridgeview Academy
- Leon Epps, Ritter Elementary School
- Allen Hart, Dieruff High School
- Lee Henninger, Trexler Middle School
- Greg Jean, South Mountain Middle School
- Michael Jernegan, William Allen High School
- Carolin Kreidler, Roosevelt Elementary School
- Tom Mays, Lehigh Parkway Elementary School
- Courtney McGee, Union Terrace Elementary School
- Petra Pena, Food Service Department
- Ezekial Rabenold, Sheridan Elementary School
- Margarita Ramos, Hays Elementary School
- Jammell Rivera, Sonia Sotomayor Dual Language Immersion Academy
- Michele Sanchez, Harrison Morton Middle School
- Kristina Schware, Ramos Elementary School
- Melissa Vasquez, William Penn (Alternative Education)
- Kara Williams, Mosser Elementary School
- Maura Wilt, Raub Middle School
- Elias Wismer, Muhlenberg Elementary School
New Teacher of the Year:
- Elizabeth Rickrode - Science Teacher, William Allen High School
- John Markle - Science Teacher, South Mountain Middle School
- Michelle Soto - Learning Support Teacher, Bridgeview Academy
Teacher of the Year:
- Jude Adams, Union Terrace Elementary School
- Jada Avery, Jefferson Elementary School
- Joshua Bankus, William Allen High School
- Alyssa Bolen, Central Stream Academy
- Sara Jane Brace, Roosevelt Elementary School
- Brittny Buonanno, Harrison-Morton Middle School
- Christopher Cosgrave, Mosser Elementary School
- Dr. Jennifer Dodd, Dieruff High School
- Kate Eighmy, South Mountain Middle School
- Tiffany Goodman, Lehigh Parkway Elementary School
- Jaime Iero, Sheridan Elementary School
- Deb Ihling, Raub Middle School
- Kristina Meihofer-Basile, William Penn (Alternative Education)
- Tammy Melchior, Ritter Elementary School
- Keri Mittura, Ramos Elementary School
- Sarah Ongiri, Dodd Elementary School
- Tara Peters, Hays Elementary School
- Lauren Pysher, Lehigh Parkway Elementary School
- Amaris Recker, Sonia Sotomayor Dual Language Immersion Academy
- Shannon Salter, Bridgeview Academy
- Jessica Schafer, Trexler Middle School
- Christina Shoemaker, Jackson Early Childhood Center
- Tanja Turchanik, Washington Elementary School
- Ashley Weinberg, Ruby Bridges Early Childhood Center
Congratulations to all of our incredible You Are the Light of the Year Winners! This summer, the Allentown School District Foundation will select one Teacher of the Year nominee to receive a $2,500 stipend and one Support Staff of the Year nominee to receive $500. Both selected winners will be announced at a later date.