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Andrene Brown-Nowell was elected to serve as President of the Board in December 2023 and is honored to continue to serve the staff, students, and families of the Allentown School District in this new role.

She is the executive director of the Fine Feather Foundation, a non-profit organization that works with at-risk children with a focus on mental health and healing through the arts. She also serves as CEO of Fine Fashion Kids, a children’s fashion company.

Ms. Brown-Nowell holds a Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Audrey Mathison was first elected to the Board in 2015 and has previously served as both president and vice president.

Ms. Mathison holds a Master's Degree in Education and brings her expertise to the Negotiations Committee and also represents Allentown School District on the Lehigh Career and Technical Institute Joint Operating Committee.

She enjoys that we now begin all of our board meetings with a spotlight performance from our schools and urges students to take advantage of the many opportunities for engagement that the District has to offer. 

LaTarsha Brown is deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the district. It is her goal to work together with her fellow board members to have a positive impact in Allentown and make our schools a great place for all in our community.

Ms. Brown also represents the District on the Safety Task Force and serves as the Chair of the City’s Human Relations Commission.

She is the proud parent of a current Dieruff High School student & graduate.

Lisa Conover is a proud parent of several Dieruff graduates, and her youngest son is currently a member of the Dieruff ROTC. She sits on the Education, Legislative, and Policy Committees as well as the Safety Task Force.

Ms. Conover also represents Allentown School District on the Lehigh Career and Technical Institute Joint Operating Committee. Her professional experience includes working as a Realtor and serving as a former Chamber of Commerce president. She has also worked as an Lehigh Career and Technical Institute substitute instructor.

Ms. Conover is full of Husky Pride but is a fierce advocate for all students in Allentown.

Phoebe Harris, was first elected to the Board in 2017. Ms. Harris serves as the chair of both the Policy Committee and the Building Committee and sits on the Finance Committee and Athletic Committee.

She represents the District on the Board for the Allentown Public Library as the Vice President. Ms. Harris is the proud parent of a William Allen High School graduate.

She is very active in the community as a member of the Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum, is the Board President of the Doleman Black Heritage Museum in Hagerstown, Maryland, and is a Community Engagement Volunteer for the NAACP Allentown Chapter.

Ms. Harris believes that education is the most powerful weapon in the world, and loves to interact with students and families throughout our city.

Nicholoff was appointed to the Board in September of 2024. He will serve in this position until the reorganization meeting in December 2027.

Nicholoff is a human resources manager for the Silgan Containers manufacturing plant, where he oversees the HR and administrative functions for more than 60 employees. In this role, he specializes in writing policy, developing strategy, conducting investigations, and resolving interpersonal conflict. Additionally, Nicholoff brings a background in social work as a case manager and group facilitator. He double majored in history and philosophy at the College of New Jersey where he received a Bachelor’s Degree.

Jennifer Ortiz was first elected to the Board in 2021. Ms. Ortiz is the proud parent of two daughters in the Allentown School District.

She represents Allentown on the Lehigh Career and Technical Institute Joint Operating Committee. As a member of the Board, Ms. Ortiz enjoys the opportunity to be a part of positive change and make the district a better place for everyone.

This year, she is looking forward to working with the Superintendent and colleagues to make the District a safe and welcoming environment for all.

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. 

Ana Tiburcio is a proud graduate of Dieruff High School and is a William Allen High School parent. She chose to run for school board in the hopes of increasing parent engagement with the teachers and the school district.

As a first-year board member, Ms. Tiburcio is looking forward to the growth of our District through the adoption of our Strategic Plan and making changes so students can feel comfortable in their learning environment.

Ms. Tiburcio’s advice for current students? “Don’t give up, no matter the obstacles."