ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The Allentown School Board approved a new principal for Louis E. Dieruff High School.
Geoffrey Schmidt will assume his new role in January, ASD officials said in a news release Friday.
Schmidt currently is the school design lead at Holyoke High School Opportunity Academy in Massachusetts.
Schmidt earned his bachelor's and one of his master's degrees from Lehigh University and a second master's degree from the New School.
“I am eager to return to my roots in the Lehigh Valley to be with my family and look forward to collaborating with the students, families, and staff of Dieruff High School to make a positive impact on the community,” Schmidt said in the release.
Michael Makhoul resigned as Dieruff's principal on April 30 after holding that job since 2019. Before that, he served as assistant principal beginning in 2011.
"...We look forward to working closely with Mr. Schmidt to achieve our shared vision of academic excellence and student success at Dieruff High School.”ASD Superintendent Carol D. Birks
ASD officials noted part of Schmidt's role in the job he is leaving was leading professional development strategies and guiding an engagement team of success coaches leading advisory, attendance, and school culture initiatives.
Schmidt "played a pivotal role in increasing graduation rates and closing equity gaps in Holyoke Public Schools and maintained 100% teacher and staff retention for three years," they said.
Allentown schools Superintendent Carol D. Birks gave Schmidt a warm welcome.
"...We look forward to working closely with Mr. Schmidt to achieve our shared vision of academic excellence and student success at Dieruff High School,” Birks said.
