It’s day one for Allentown School District’s new superintendent of schools

It’s day one for Allentown School District’s new superintendent of schools

By  Chloe Nouvelle

April 26, 2021

Kids in Allentown may want to bring an apple to school today, the first day for the city’s new superintendent of schools.

Marilyn Martinez is taking over for Thomas Parker. His last day with the district was April 23.

Martinez is Allentown’s new interim superintendent. The district says her past experience includes working as an adjunct instructor at Holy Family University and serving as the superintendent of Pennsauken Public Schools in New Jersey.

And it’s no simple job. She is now leading the education of 17,000 students, most of whom were out of school for over a year because of the pandemic.

Martinez is also heading up a district that historically runs budget deficits and one where leaders say it’s financially challenged, in part, because tens of millions of dollars go out the door to charter schools every year. 

But in remarks she delivered to the school board, Martinez said she’ll work to, “open the doors of opportunities” for students and prepare them to reach their dreams. 

Martinez will hold this post until the school board finds a permanent replacement. 

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