A Lehighton Area School District administrator answered questions about his past during the school board meeting this week.

Dr. Mark McGalla, Lehighton Middle School principal, acknowledged criminal charges filed against him in 2002 when he was vice principal at Springdale Junior-Senior High School in western Pennsylvania.According to an article published on the Pittsburgh Tribune Review website, McGalla was accused of wrapping a telephone cord around a female employee's neck and sexually harassing her the next day."I was accused of something I did not do," McGalla said. "While the allegations were not true, I defended myself, like anyone would, with an attorney. The charges were dismissed and my record was expunged. I wouldn't be here if that wasn't the case. You can't imagine what it is like to be accused of something you didn't do."McGalla worked in the Allegheny Valley School District for around six months before the charges, including aggravated assault, indecent assault and open lewdness, were filed.He resigned in the wake of the investigation, later working in the Pocono Mountain School District before coming to Lehighton.According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, if an educator is convicted of certain crimes, including aggravated assault, the Professional Standards and Practices Commission must revoke that individual's educator certificate.McGalla said after the case dismissal, he never imagined he would have to talk about it again."What is really scary is that it could happen to anybody here," McGalla said of false accusations."I didn't anticipate that the Internet would make the incident permanent after the charges were dismissed. I can tell you that I'm thankful for every day I work in education. I have never faltered in my quest to become a public educator."McGalla's statement came in the wake of questioning from resident Wilmer Everetts, who questioned whether the board was aware of the arrest."If it's all in fact true then I apologize for anything that I've done or talked about it," Everetts said following the remarks."When we do things wrong, there are ways to clear the record so of course we are going to be skeptical."Everetts further asked why the district hired from outside the Lehighton community for the middle school principal position, among others."The goal for hiring is to get the most qualified candidate," said Jonathan Cleaver, Lehighton superintendent. "That may not come from right here in this area."As McGalla "fought for his innocence," he tried to imagine working outside the education field, but couldn't."I was blessed with support from my family including my wife, who I have known since middle school," McGalla said."My goal is to inspire my staff and students to become whatever they want to be despite what obstacles they may face."