Lehighton Area School District hired Patricia Sterner as its next cheerleading coach Monday night by a 6-1 vote.

Prior to the vote, however, the board heard from Lehighton cheerleader Allison Foeller, who was joined by three of her classmates in support of Devon Linaberry, who finished the most recent season as interim coach following the resignation of Heather Fiorentino-Rex in January.

“I love my team with all my heart, and after all we have dealt with, we were ecstatic for next season With Devon Linaberry as our head coach,” Foeller said. “Our team went through chaos last year, and Devon was the person who stayed through it all and picked up the pieces. She stepped up as interim coach without hesitation and brought our team back together.”

Sterner, a Lehighton graduate, said she understood the bond Foeller and her teammates had with Linaberry and looks forward to working through the challenges any coaching transition brings with it.

“This is my dream job,” Sterner, who has 25 years of experience as a cheerleader, coach and coordinator at multiple levels, said. “I know there is a big fear of the unknown when a new coach comes in and it’s heart-wrenching to not know what is going to happen. I can guarantee you I will not let the district down and I will give it everything I have.”

Safety of the cheerleaders, Sterner said, will be her number one priority.

“That is my biggest thing,” she said. “I won’t put someone out there to do something I know they can’t do.”

Voting in favor of Sterner were Joy Beers, Jeremy Glaush, Barbara Bowes, Richard Beltz, Kerry Sittler and Brian Shaner. Walter Zlomsowitch voted no, while April Walker and Nathan Foeller abstained.

“My no vote is not because of Patricia Sterner,” Zlomsowitch said. “We heard from the cheerleaders tonight and I think we should have tabled it to have a little more discussion.”

Director Nathan Foeller, meanwhile, acknowledged that his daughter was the cheerleader who spoke before the vote, leading to his abstention.

“They felt they had a coach who did a great job for them last season,” he said. “They were hoping she was the one selected for the position, understanding there is a process that goes along with that. I think the biggest thing all of us want to see is the program go forward in a positive direction.”