\n<\/strong><\/em>Three Final Candidates for Superintendent
\n<\/strong><\/em>Public Forums Scheduled for November 14, 17 and 30<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
Allentown, PA (November 7, 2016) <\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>After conducting a nationwide search, following months of reviewing candidate submissions and first-round interviews, the Allentown School District\u2019s Superintendent Search Committee has selected three candidates as finalists: Eric N. Gallien, Ph.D., of Racine, WI; Orlando Ramos, Ed.D., of Milwaukee, WI; and Thomas E. Parker, Ed.D., anticipated spring 2017, of Rochester Hills, MI.<\/p>\n The search process involved School Board members David F.\u00a0Zimmerman (President),<\/p>\n Ce-Ce\u00a0Gerlach\u00a0(Vice President), Audrey Mathison, and Robert E. Smith, Jr. who comprised the<\/p>\n \u201cBoard Search Committee\u201d and reviewed the first round of applicants and narrowed the selection of candidates to a short list of eight. These eight candidates were then interviewed by the full Search Committee who recommended the final three candidates.<\/p>\n \u201cTo say that we are pleased would be an understatement,\u201d says David F. Zimmerman, President of the Allentown School District School Board of Directors. \u201cOur Search Committee \u2013 which includes representatives from all of our stakeholders \u2013 had the challenging, yet rewarding, task of interviewing exceptional candidates from across the country and narrowing the list to our top three. Each of these three individuals offers a wealth of experience and fresh insight, and have the qualities that rose to the top of the list in our Superintendent Search Surveys. We are looking forward to the feedback from the upcoming forums to help guide the School Board\u2019s final decision.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Public Forums will be held for parents, guardians, students, and Allentown residents at Trexler Middle School\u2019s Auditorium, 851 North 15th Street, Allentown as follows:<\/p>\n After a brief statement from the candidate, they will address questions from participants. Participants will be provided an opportunity to provide written feedback to the Search Committee. To meet the needs of the District\u2019s diverse population, both Spanish and Arabic translators will be on hand. The Forums will be recorded. Feedback forms will be available on the District website.<\/p>\n In addition to the Public Forums, forums will be held for the ASD Union representatives, ASD Administrators, ASD Faculty and Staff, High School students, United Way and Community Partners, and Business Leaders.<\/p>\n As stated, the selection of the final three candidates was the task of the Superintendent Search Committee. That committee included the following individuals:<\/p>\n Brief Candidate Bios<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong>Eric N. Gallien, Ph.D.<\/strong>\u00a0 Since 2013, Gallien has been the Deputy Superintendent of Racine Unified School District which serves 20,000 students and 3,100 employees. He has also held the position of Racine\u2019s Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education; Director of School Support \u2013 Turnaround and Innovation Region at Milwaukee Public Schools; has been an Elementary, Middle and High School Principal; the Founding Principal of a new high school; an Assistant Principal; Teacher; and Educational Assistant. A Non-Commissioned Officer in the United States Marine Corp, Gallien holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a Master of<\/p>\n Arts in Administrative Leadership and a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction from Alverno College in Milwaukee, WI. He also earned his Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education and History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an Associate\u2019s Degree in Cooperative Urban Education Program from Milwaukee Area Technical College.<\/p>\n Orlando Ramos, Ed.D.<\/strong>\u00a0 Since 2015, Ramos has been the Regional Superintendent \u2013 High Schools for the Milwaukee Public Schools which serves 77,000+ students. He has served as Associate Superintendent \u2013 Office of Innovation and Reform for the East Baton Rouge Parish School System; District Transformation\/School Improvement Officer for Decatur Public Schools; Director \u2013 Office of Transformation\/Turnaround Schools for Chicago Public Schools; Middle School Principal at Alum Rock School District, San Jose, CA; High School Principal at West Contra Costa Unified School District, Richmond, CA; and a Director, Assistant Principal and Teacher in the New York City Department of Education. Ramos holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL and a Masters in Urban Education at Cambridge College, Cambridge, MA. He also earned his Bachelor in Arts in Political Science from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York City, NY. Ramos, who is bilingual, was the 2008 recipient of the California Peace Prize Award.<\/p>\n Thomas E. Parker, Ed.D. Candidate (anticipated Spring of 2017).<\/strong>\u00a0 Since 2013, Parker has been the Superintendent of Ecorse Public Schools in Ecorse, MI which serves 1,100 students. He has served as Harper Woods High School and Middle School Principal, and Founding Principal of Harper Academy for the Harper Woods School District, MI; Principal of Osborn College Preparatory Academy and Assistant Principal for Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School and Chadsey High School, Dean of Students, Interim Curriculum Leader and Teacher for Detroit Public Schools; and Program Coordinator of Cranbrook Schools \u2013 Horizons Upward Bound in Bloomfield Hills, MI.\u00a0 Parker is a Doctoral of Education \u2013 Educational Leadership candidate at Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI, and holds a Master of Arts in Education Foundation and Policy from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in History and Secondary Education from Howard University in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n About Allentown School District<\/strong><\/p>\n ASD serves more than 17,000 students in a network of 22 early childhood, elementary, middle and high schools located throughout the City of Allentown, PA. The Allentown School District is the third largest urban school district out of 500 districts in the Commonwealth. A shared vision of the community, parents, guardians, staff and faculty focuses on \u201cEmpowering Students for Life,\u201d providing ASD students with the skills and academics they need to realize their aspirations whether they be college, career or technical focus. ASD goals are aligned and compatible with the Pathways to Success Framework while providing a balanced education to all students. Allentown School District employs approximately 2,200 teachers, staff and administrators. The District, founded in 1866 and celebrating its Sesquicentennial throughout 2015-2016, serves students from 43 countries speaking 26 languages with nearly 90 percent of households qualifying as low income. ASD is committed to providing safe learning environments in which all students have equal access to education programs and resources.<\/p>\n\n
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