SOUTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — Parkland School District is moving into a new era for its arts education.
Parkland School Board on Tuesday hired Renee Mosser to fill the position of Director of Visual and Performing Arts for the district.
Mosser is a former principal and Allentown School District arts curriculum facilitator. She has two master's degrees — one in dance education and another in art education, as well as a doctorate in administration and educational leadership.
“My heart has always been in the arts. My saying is, ‘Everything you ever needed to know, you learn through the arts.’ And I could prove it.”Renee Mosser, Parkland Schools new Director of Visual and Performing Arts
Mosser’s hiring for the $120,000-a-year job comes after former district Director of Visual and Performing Arts Frank Anonia resigned in June after three years in the position.
Anonia was the subject of an internal investigation, according to an email from Superintendent Mark Madson obtained by LehighValleyNews.com.
The Director of Visual and Performing Arts is responsible for developing the art programs in all the district’s schools.
Who is Renee Mosser?
Mosser worked in the Allentown School District as an arts curriculum facilitator and assistant principal. She started Allen High School’s dance program in 1995.
She then worked as a principal in the Haverford Township and Exeter Township School Districts. But she said she wanted to get back into art education.
“My heart has always been in the arts," Mosser said. "My saying is, ‘Everything you ever needed to know, you learn through the arts.’ And I could prove it.”
Mosser said her plan for her new job is to “listen and learn” about the performing arts department and figure out how to best support the teachers.
“I'm a very transparent person, so I think my enthusiasm and love for what I do might help build that trust.”Dr. Renee Mosser, Parkland's new Director of Visual and Performing Arts
When asked how she plans to move the department forward considering the circumstances of Anonia’s resignation, Mosser said she thinks the most important thing in leadership is trust.
“I think listening and being sensitive to building that trust is of most importance to me,” Mosser said. “I'm a very transparent person, so I think my enthusiasm and love for what I do might help build that trust.”
Madson said in a news release that, "Renee is extremely knowledgeable and possesses strong communication and interpersonal skills."
"Her strong leadership background and experiences will be a tremendous asset and we are excited to welcome her to our administrative team."
Investigation into Anonia
Asked if details about the investigation into Anonia would ever be made public, Madson said that he could not comment on personnel matters.
The email from Madson about the investigation, dated April 25, said, “allegations involving Mr. Anonia” prompted it, but did not say what those allegations were.
On April 11, 29-year-old William Marshall, who lived with Anonia, was sentenced in Lehigh County to 11½ to 23 months in county prison for possessing child pornography.
Marshall is a 2013 graduate of Parkland High School and a former student of Anonia's. He later was placed on the state’s Megan’s Law registry of sex offenders.
On April 17, Anonia was deposed in a lawsuit that alleges the district knew another teacher was sexually assaulting students but did nothing to stop it, the plaintiffs’ attorney, Stewart Ryan, said.
The lawsuit was brought by five former students against Parkland School District, Palisades School District and former teacher and soccer coach Christian Willman.
Ryan said the district currently has the opportunity to file a summary judgment motion, meaning it would ask the judge to dismiss the lawsuit.
If that happens, the depositions in the case — including Anonia’s — could become public while the judge decides if there is enough evidence to move forward.
