Listen to article \u2022\u00a00:00 min<\/p>\n
Renato Lajara, a longtime city educator and current assistant superintendent in the Philadelphia School District, is on his way out of the school system.<\/p>\n
Lajara has been chosen as the new superintendent of the Bethlehem Area School District, Pennsylvania\u2019s sixth-largest school system, with over 12,000 students.<\/p>\n
Lajara now supervises a learning network composed of 15 schools in North Philadelphia<\/a> and Kensington<\/a>. He has also worked as a principal of both district and charter schools, and in Cheltenham.<\/p>\n Michael Faccinetto, president of the Bethlehem Area school board, called Lajara \u201ca visionary, student-centered leader with a deep commitment to equity and excellence,\u201d and said he had a proven record of improving student outcomes.<\/p>\n \u201cThroughout the search process, it was clear that his experience transforming school communities, supporting educators, and delivering results for students sets him apart,\u201d Faccinetto said in a statement. \u201cWe are confident that under his leadership, the Bethlehem Area School District will continue to grow and thrive.\u201d<\/p>\n Lajara, who holds bachelor\u2019s, master\u2019s, and doctoral degrees from Gwynedd Mercy University, came to the United States from the Dominican Republic as a child and enrolled in city schools as an English language learner. <\/p>\n He replaces Jack Silva, who is retiring June 30. Lajara, in the statement, called the Bethlehem job \u201can incredible privilege.\u201d<\/p>\n