ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Phoebe Harris won’t seek a third term as an Allentown School Board director in 2025, but that doesn’t mean she plans to leave public service.
Harris, a Democrat, told LehighValleyNews.com she’s eyeing another elected position in Lehigh County but declined to announce which one just yet.
“I’ve enjoyed dedicating my time, my passion, my heart, my love to the Allentown School District families, employees and students. It has been a great honor to serve on that ASD board.”Allentown School Board member Phoebe Harris
As for why she’s moving on from the school board: “I completed everything that I wanted to complete,” Harris said.
“I’ve enjoyed dedicating my time, my passion, my heart, my love to the Allentown School District families, employees and students,” she said.
“It has been a great honor to serve on that ASD board.”
Harris’ seat is among five Allentown School Board seats up for grabs this election cycle.
A vocal board member
Harris, 59, is a political consultant and parent of an ASD graduate. She first joined the board in late 2017 and was re-elected in 2021.
Harris chairs the board’s policy, building and athletics committees. She also has represented ASD on the Allentown Public Library board for the past five years, serving as the vice president.
In her time as a school director, Harris hasn’t minced words or shied away from controversy.
Harris has both criticized district partners she said weren’t up to par and advocated for community groups she said benefit ASD students.
Recently, Harris spoke out against the Pennsylvania School Boards Association for allegedly giving an award named after the state’s first Black school board director exclusively to white people. She was kicked out of PSBA’s annual convention as a result.
And when ASD Superintendent Carol Birks was poised to receive her four-year contract in 2023, Harris denounced the board’s haste, calling for community members to have more input in the chief of schools selection process.
Harris said she has never doubted Birks’ ability to lead, though, and said the superintendent has been the best leader ASD has ever had.
Harris' accomplishments
Asked about her accomplishments as a board director, Harris highlighted her role as policy committee chair. The board reviewed 26% of ASD’s policies and procedures last year.
Among her other successes, Harris pointed to 2023, when she spearheaded a group of school directors who publicly asked Allentown City Council to let the district lease Andre Reed Park.
ASD wanted to upgrade the park’s athletic facilities for the Dieruff High School students who use them.
While the city didn’t lease the land to ASD, it began working with the school district to improve the park’s facilities.
Harris also highlighted her role in creation of the district’s Early College program with Lehigh Carbon Community College in 2019. The program lets high school upperclassmen earn an associate’s degree.
Harris, along with Director Lisa Conover and former Director Cheryl Johnson Watts, advocated for the program, she said.
Additionally, Harris said she’s proud of her work helping distribute meals to students during the COVID-19 pandemic and fundraising for student activities.
She raised more than $30,000 over the past five years for baseball programs that benefit district students, she said.
Goals for 2025 and future board
When asked, Harris said she wouldn’t change any of her decisions from her time on the board.
As for what she hopes to see the board prioritize moving forward, Harris said academics, whole-child development and culturally responsive teaching are essential.
Harris said she will continue pushing for the development of an East Side stadium during her last year on the school board and beyond.
She also said she'll remain involved in the development of a new school at the former Allentown State Hospital property on the city’s East Side.
