Schools don't exist for individuals to have jobs, but, rather, to ensure that students receive a public education.

So were the words of Palmerton Area School District Superintendent Scot Engler, who shared some of his views on education with members of the Palmerton Area Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday.Engler became the district's superintendent July 1. Several years earlier, he served as director of student services in the district.That familiarity with the district is one of the aspects of the job that Engler said appealed most to him."I knew what the community was about," Engler said. "I felt at home here."Since he became superintendent, Engler noted that many changes have taken place."We needed to revise the climate and culture that was in our district," Engler said. "We made some pretty quick administrative changes."Engler was complimentary of the teachers and administrators who comprise the district."Our building level administrators, I would stack them up against anybody; they're here for the right reason, and I know that," he said. "Our teachers are outstanding."Plans are currently under way to revise the curriculum, Engler said."We need to address it," he said. "It hasn't been revisited in quite some time."However, Engler said teachers remain concerned about the Pennsylvania School Performance Profile scores. The results were released last month, and will be followed up in January, he said."My vision is that we treat the district as it is, which is an outstanding community, an outstanding district," he said. "I am thrilled to be here."Engler said he believes his background in special education has helped him put things into perspective."We have to look at how can we do this in recognition of our tax base that's supporting us," he said. "I am here for the students and for the district."Peter Kern, chamber president, asked Engler how he balances his act between the staff and students."I am a tremendous student advocate," Engler said. "I've set goals for myself; I have been in every single building every single week."Engler said he makes it a point to visit the students."I speak with them; I do that routinely," he said. "The office stuff hasn't, and won't, come at the expense of being in the buildings."Chamber member Susan Steigerwalt asked Engler if the high school will ever be able to field its own band again.Engler replied, "I fully believe that we will have a band again. The support is there; we want it to succeed."Dan Kunkle, executive director of the Lehigh Gap Nature Center, asked Engler how to ensure that the "average student'" doesn't get lost in the shuffle.Engler said, "I believe in appropriate programs for students. It's a very delicate balance."Afterward, Kern said that education, "Is a subject that obviously we could talk about for the next two to three hours. There are areas of education that we all have concerns about."