Two Allentown School District acting principals have been elevated to the jobs permanently: Alicia Knauff at Allen High and Tara Walter at Jackson Early Childhood Center.
Knauff had a celebratory night for more than one reason at Thursday’s board meeting, as the school board recognized Allen’s baseball team for its first district title in 31 years.
The Allen High School baseball team is celebrated at a school board meeting Thursday, May 28, 2026, for winning its first district title in 31 years. (Elizabeth DeOrnellas/The Morning Call)
In her interim role, Knauff “successfully steers a massive, diverse campus of over 3,000 students,” ASD Chief of Talent Management and Labor Relations Herman James said as he introduced Knauff to gathered district leaders and celebrated her promotion. He praised her leadership, noting she “re-engineered the school department chair model to empower instructional coaches and launched a high-visibility leadership framework focused entirely on protecting the instructional core across a faculty of 200 educators.”
At Jackson, Walter has created a “data-driven school culture,” James said. He also noted her prior experience as an elementary school assistant principal. Her teaching experience includes elementary school positions and work as a family and consumer science teacher, he added.
“Additionally, she has contributed to the development of future educators as an adjunct education faculty member at DeSales University,” James said.
Alicia Knauff has been promoted from acting principal to principal at Allen High School in Allentown. The announcement was made at the Thursday, May 28, 2026 board meeting. (Courtesy Allentown School District)
Tara Walter has been promoted from acting principal to principal of Jackson Early Childhood Center in the Allentown School District. The announcement was made at the Thursday, May 28, 2026 board meeting. (Allentown School District)