A familiar face will be returning to Lehighton Area School District as assistant to the superintendent on an interim basis after Lehighton’s school board changed course Monday on how it was handling the position.

Moments after rescinding an Aug. 23 motion that promoted high school Principal Suzanne Howland to assistant superintendent, the district’s board of directors appointed Dr. Keith “Jake” Boyer to the assistant to the superintendent role.

“Dr. Boyer is a former superintendent for the Jim Thorpe Area School District and an award winning administrator who is willing to assist John W. Corby in the capacity of assistant to the superintendent until a new assistant to the superintendent is appointed, or until the end of the 2021-22 school year,” the district’s agreement with Boyer states. “The district is especially in need of having services in the area of Title IX as the result of concerns about student interactions and potential sexual harassment of students and Dr. Boyer has agreed to lead the Title IX initiative with appropriate training and other resources available to him.”

Boyer, a Lehighton High School alum, will be paid $65 per hour. He said after the meeting the homecoming would be a special one.

“It is an honor to be asked to share my educational experiences with Lehighton Area School District,” Boyer said. “It is my hometown and as an alumni, it is a real pleasure to assist in any way I can. It is time to move forward. I know Mr. Corby. He is an excellent, experienced superintendent. Lehighton has a great administrative team, faculty and support staff. I am looking forward to working with all of them.”

Board President Joy Beers said Boyer has long been known as a student advocate.

“He will assist Mr. Corby in the day-to-day operations of the district,” Beers said. “We’re very fortunate to have him and we welcome him.”

Among other things, the assistant to the superintendent is responsible for directing curriculum activities of the district including development, implementation, evaluation, and re-evaluation of the district’s K-12 instructional program.

Boyer follows in the footsteps of Tim Tkach, who retired on Dec. 31.

Howland, a 1991 Lehighton graduate, will continue on in her role as high school principal, a position she has held since August 2017.

“Sue Howland is a valued member of our administrative team and our students have enjoyed many successes under her leadership, and we look forward to many more,” Beers said.

Howland was to start in her new position as assistant superintendent on Dec. 1, but remain as high school principal through the 2022 graduation. Her salary for 2021-22, per a five-year contract, was to be $115,000, She never started as assistant superintendent, however, and in mid-December, Lehighton’s board deemed then Superintendent Jonathan Cleaver’s contract invalid. The board then tabbed Corby to fill the superintendent role on an interim basis.

“The last month has been truly enjoyable,” Corby said Monday night. “I’ve gone around to the different buildings and been greeted with nothing but smiling faces. We have a great staff and a great board working toward the betterment of the district. I’ve been very appreciative of the warm welcome.”

Beers also spoke highly of Corby’s leadership as the district tries to turn the page on multiple years of contentious split votes and lengthy, sometimes four-to-five-hour, board meetings.

“In the last month, Mr. Corby has brought a tremendous amount of experience and professionalism to the district,” Beers said. “Everyone is appreciative of his dedication. He will continue on until a permanent superintendent is chosen.”

Beers said the district is conducting a thorough search and regular updates on the process will be posted to the public as it moved along.