Former CT educator hired as Penn. superintendent in fiery board meeting; first Black woman to lead Allentown schools

Despite a fiery meeting that drew public criticisms of the hiring process, Allentown School Board approved a contract Thursday for Carol Birks to serve as the district’s permanent superintendent until June 2027 at an annual salary of $250,000.

In a 7-2 vote, Birks was appointed as the first Black woman to lead Allentown School District. She had been serving as interim superintendent since late October when former Superintendent John Stanford controversially left the district. Birks is the sixth permanent superintendent since 2010.

“I’ve been relentless,” Birks said of her approach to education. “It’s gotten me into trouble, my fight, my passion, because I believe all 16,100 of the students here can be successful.”

Birks said she’s spent her career working with districts like ASD, where students experience poverty, just like she did as a child in Bridgeport, Connecticut. She promised to be accessible and to bring people together.

The only board members who voted against Birks’ contract were Lisa Conover and Phoebe Harris.

Earlier in the meeting, Conover made a motion to table the contract vote, which was seconded by Harris. The motion to table failed 2-7. Conover and Harris were the only directors in favor of tabling the vote.