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Allentown School District Logo

Meet the School Board of Directors

Ms. Andrene Brown-Nowell was recently elected to a third term as President of the Board, a position she has held since December 2023. She is honored to continue to serve the staff, students, and families of the Allentown School District in this role. Ms. Brown-Nowell also serves on numerous subcommittees, including Finance, Negotiations & Personnel, Century Promise, Community Music School, and represents the Allentown School District on the Carbon-Lehigh Intermediate Unit Board and the ASD Foundation. Ms. Brown-Nowell is the executive director of the Fine Feather Foundation. Ms. Brown- Nowell holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. 

Ms. Mathison is a retired secondary English teacher who taught at Parkland High School for 40 years. Now in her tenth year on the Allentown School Board, she currently serves as Vice President of the Board, Chair of the Finance Committee, and Vice Chair of the Joint Operating Committee at LCTI, in addition to serving on several committees throughout her tenure.

Ms. Mathison holds a BA from Grove City College and a Master's from Lehigh University. She ran for the board to remain connected to education and to support the growth and success of Allentown’s students. She is proud of the District’s practical and inspiring strategic plan and is energized by the progress already underway. Her top priority is ensuring that every student has what they need today to build a successful and fulfilling life in the future.

Mr. Nick Nicholoff was first appointed to fill a vacancy on the Board in September 2024 and was re-elected to his position in 2025. He serves as the chair of the Policy Committee and represents the District on the Lehigh Career and Technical Institute Board.  

He joined the Allentown School Board to help ensure that the district’s foundational policies are designed to truly serve students, staff, and families. He is passionate about creating systems that make sense, improve experiences, and reflect the needs of the community. His priorities include staff retention, policy development, and strengthening critical thinking and problem-solving opportunities for students. 

Mr. Nicholoff is a human resources manager at the Silgan Containers manufacturing plant, where he oversees the HR and administrative functions. In this role, he specializes in writing policy, developing strategies, conducting investigations, and resolving interpersonal conflicts. He double-majored in history and philosophy at the College of New Jersey, where he received a Bachelor’s degree. He believes that students don’t need to be experts to thrive—if they learn how to sort information and solve problems, they can pursue any path with confidence.

Zaleeae Sierra is a proud graduate of William Allen High School and is currently studying Business Management at Lehigh Carbon Community College.

As the Director of Youth at Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley, she developed PNLV’s “I Can Be” Youth Program, that has created a lasting impact on the Lehigh Valley’s youth and their families. The program focuses on topics such as ending gun violence, career exploration, healthy relationships, leadership development, bullying prevention, and mental health awareness. 

Ms. Sierra is a passionate advocate for our students and hopes to inspire them through her work. Her goal is to create a culture of unity, understanding, and empathy, fostering an environment where students can thrive and above all else, feel safe. 

Mr. Denzel Morris is a lifelong resident of Allentown, and Staff Software Engineer and Technical Lead at Meta. He decided to run for the School Board of Directors to do his civic duty and help build better outcomes for students and staff across the district.

Mr. Morris serves on the board of Girls on the Run Lehigh Valley & Pocono and is deeply committed to using his expertise to strengthen public education in his hometown. He believes education is the most powerful way to help others and joined the Board to support students, families, and staff by leveraging systems thinking and innovation.

Mr. Morris looks forward to working with fellow board members to solve the district’s most critical challenges. What he enjoys most is serving the children and parents of the city he has always called home. He is passionate about creating independent learners who are equipped to succeed throughout their lives and hopes to help organize the systems needed to deliver on ASD’s ambitious strategic goals.

His advice to students is simple: seek mentors who generously share their wisdom—those relationships can shape your future. 

Dr. Cereta Johnson, who was elected to the board in 2025. She is a proud graduate of Dieruff High School and the CEO and Founder of Children of Joy Christian Academy, as well as the founder of Miracles of Hope and The Johnson Foundation.

She holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Management and brings decades of experience supporting children and families. Dr. Johnson was elected to the board in 2025 and chose to run for this role to give back to the district that shaped her belief in the power of a high-quality education.

She is committed to strengthening student success, supporting staff, and building systems that provide the resources, tools, and policies students and families need to thrive. Her priorities include school safety, teacher retention, and increasing student achievement.

Dr. Johnson is passionate about helping all learners reach their full potential through high-quality instruction, strong partnerships, and data-driven decisions aligned to the District’s Strategic Plan, Lighting the Way: A Blueprint for Innovation & Excellence 2030.

Ms. Michels is a professional counselor who is excited to join the Allentown School District’s School Board of Directors. She brings a strong background in Psychology, holding a B.S. in Special Education and an M.S. in Clinical Psychology and Counseling.

Ms. Michels has previous nonprofit board leadership experience, as well as a deep commitment to supporting children with diverse learning needs and language barriers. She ran for the Allentown School Board to help ensure every child receives the highest-quality education possible and to support staff in doing their best work.

Ms. Michels looks forward to collaborating with fellow board members and district professionals to strengthen teaching, learning, and student support across the district. Her priorities include meeting the needs of students receiving special education services, addressing language barriers, and supporting and retaining Allentown’s dedicated educators and paraprofessionals. Outside of her service, Ms. Michaels enjoys art and travels with her Seeing Eye dog.

Ms. Evette D’Amore is a proud parent of Dieruff High School students and was elected to the board in 2025. She enjoys watching her children participate in soccer, wrestling, and cross country, and values seeing students grow both academically and personally. Her role as a parent is what most strongly motivates her service on the Allentown School Board and her commitment to ensuring all students receive a quality education. 

Ms. D’Amore works as an Office Manager and is actively involved in the community as the Sports Coordinator for the Midway Manor Community Association. She values building relationships, meeting new people, and supporting students as they learn and develop. Her priorities include improving student attendance, strengthening staff and student morale, and addressing district buildings and facilities. Her advice to students is to push beyond their comfort zones and grow beyond what is expected of them.

Nancy Wilt is a former Allentown School District Board Director who served from 2019 to 2023, including three years in Board leadership. A parent with three graduates, she has been deeply involved in the PTO/PTA and the Executive Board of the Allentown School District Foundation. Professionally, she works for State Representative Peter Schweyer (Education Chairman) and is the Chair of the Allentown Parks and Recreation Commission.