A Lehighton Area School District administrator has been tabbed as secondary assistant principal in the Northern Lehigh School District.

At a special meeting on Monday, the school board, on an 8-0 vote with Director Gale Husack absent, appointed David Hauser to the post at a salary of $88,000, prorated for the 2019-20 school year, effective on or about Aug. 30.

A 2001 graduate of the district, Hauser will split his time between the high school and middle school.

Hauser thanked the board for his appointment, and said he’s grateful to be able to return to his roots.

“It’s a little bit surreal for me,” Hauser said. “I’m looking forward to working hard.”

Hauser will replace Assistant High School Principal Tanya Simms after the board last month accepted her resignation, effective Aug. 16.

Simms was appointed as high school assistant principal in May 2013 at a salary of $80,000, effective Aug. 1 of that year.

She began employment with the district in August 2004 as a health and physical education teacher.

Link said Simms resigned to pursue endeavors outside of public education.

Hauser currently serves as assistant principal at Lehighton Area High School, a position he has held since August 2017 when he was hired at a salary of $72,000 to replace Jennifer Evans, who was hired in July 2017 as Lehighton Area Middle School principal. Before that, he was an English teacher at the high school.

Hauser said, this is my hometown.

“I’m very excited to come back to my roots,” he said. “That was the biggest draw.”

In addition, Hauser said the district’s stature also played a huge role in his decision.

“The reputation of the administrative team and teaching staff was very positive,” he said. “Northern Lehigh is doing some good things, and I wanted to be a part of that.”

Hauser said he believes his skill set will serve him well in his new capacity.

“I pride myself on working very hard,” he said. “I was raised that whatever you want out of life, you work for it.”

Hauser discussed some of the goals he has set for himself once he starts his new position.

“I want the kids to like school, and I want them to like being here,” he said. “I want them to know the school is here to support them, and get them to learn; I want them to find their niche and get them to be successful.”

Hauser said he also looks forward to getting reacquainted with the Northern Lehigh area.

“The first priority is getting to learn the community as well as I did 20 years ago,” he said. “I love this area; it’s very near and dear to my heart.”

Above all else, Hauser said he wants to “let the students and parents know that I’m here for them.

“I want to get to know as many kids as I possibly can, guide them, teach them, mentor them,” he said. “I am here to do that.”