The Palmerton Area School District Board of Directors voted Tuesday night to expand its student support services, appointing a new school social worker during a meeting in the high school auditorium.

The board approved Annette Trittenbach for the position, which falls under Act 93 and carries a prorated annual salary of $61,000.

Her start date is to be determined following her release from her current employer, though officials indicated she could begin on or about Jan. 20.

Professional background

District leadership introduced Trittenbach as a mental health professional with more than 10 years of experience supporting children and adolescents in both school-based and center-based settings.

“We are very pleased to have Annette Trittenbach as our newest Act 93 member as a school social worker,” Superintendent Dr. Angela Friebolin said.

Trittenbach’s most recent work involved serving in a partial hospitalization program embedded within public schools. In that capacity, she provided individual and group counseling, conducted student assessments, and collaborated with families and administrators.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and is pursuing a Master of Social Work at Pennsylvania Western University. Her specialized training includes cognitive behavior therapy, the Student Assistance Program, and the collaborative assessment and management of suicidality.

“Annette is excited to bring her experience, collaborative mindset, and student-centered focus to the Palmerton Area School District,” Friebolin said.

Palmerton’s board passed the motion unanimously.

The addition of the social worker position received praise later in the meeting from board member Erin Snyder, who highlighted the value of the role for the district’s student population.

“Our current social worker (Christina Bravo) does a fantastic job in our district, and I know now she’s going to be able to do even more work, and our kids really benefit from the social work,” Snyder said.