Tamaqua Area School Board accepted the resignation of its elementary principal, and then stayed within its ranks to name his replacement.

On a unanimous vote, the school board on Tuesday agreed to accept the resignation of Principal Steven K. Behr, at a date agreed upon with the superintendent.Immediately afterward, the board elevated elementary assistant principal James Fasnacht to the elementary principal post, at a salary of $86,000, also at a date agreed upon with the superintendent.As part of a lateral move, the board promoted Special Education Assistant Principal Laura Shook to the elementary assistant principal position.After the meeting, Superintendent Ray Kinder said that Behr resigned because he accepted a position elsewhere.Kinder said the board chose Fasnacht as Behr’s replacement because it chose to transfer from within.He said the special education assistant principal position would be vacant upon Shook taking over for Fasnacht.Kinder said he anticipated each of the moves will go into effect sometime after the new year.Behr has been employed with the district since December 2004. During that time, he served 2½ years as assistant principal at the high school, before spending the past 9½ years as elementary school principal.He resigned to accept a position as Coordinator of Elementary/Middle School Special Education with Parkland School District.Fasnacht originally worked in the district as a health and physical education teacher for seven years, before leaving for a position in the Pine Grove School District.He said while he was gone, he worked on his administrative certification, before returning to Tamaqua, where he is in his eighth year as elementary assistant principal.Fasnacht said he is “very excited and thankful for the opportunity to be the principal of Tamaqua Area Elementary schools.”“During my eight-year tenure as the assistant principal, I was fortunate to work beside Mr. Behr, who has mentored and prepared me for this great opportunity,” Fasnacht said. “I look forward to working with faculty, staff, students, and the community to continue providing an excellent education for our students.”Shook has served as assistant principal to the director of special education for over a year-and-a-half.“I am looking forward to collaborating with Mr. Fasnacht, teachers, and parents while focusing on student achievement,” Shook said.OtherIn other action, the board:• Approved the resignation of high school teacher Nathan Kester, at a date agreed upon with the superintendent.• Hired Lauren Barr as a special education teacher, at Bachelor’s Step 3 salary of $42,680.• Hired Elizabeth Hallie Hannon as a professional substitute teacher.• Hired Pamela Sabath as a professional substitute guest teacher.• Approved Rebecca Hoffman as a game manager.