The end of the 2022-23 school year is seeing a number of administration changes for Catasauqua Area School District.

At the top of the district ladder, Superintendent of Schools Robert Spengler is retiring at the end of his current term. His final day will be Oct 9. He has served in the district for 20 years.

Filling that void will be Dr. Christina Lutz-Doemling, current assistant superintendent. Her five-year term is set to run Oct. 10-Oct. 9, 2028.

“I am incredibly proud and honored to be appointed as the next Catasauqua Area School District superintendent,” she said.

Lutz-Doemling is completing her 19th year at CASD. In 2004, she was hired as the K-12 director of curriculum and assessment. She was then promoted to assistant superintendent in 2020.

Before joining CASD, Lutz-Doemling was an eighth-grade science teacher and assistant principal at Whitehall-Coplay Middle School.

She has also served as an athletic coach at the youth, high school and collegiate levels.

Lutz-Doemling said, as a public school administrator and mother of four, she values and prioritizes high school education.

“With this priority in mind, as CASD superintendent, it will be my privilege to continue to serve the students, families and larger Catasauqua educational community,” Lutz-Doemling said.

Her goals include continuing to push the “district’s focus on college and career readiness and employability skills through learner-centered programs that embrace innovation, problem solving and interdisciplinary collaboration.” This will help foster student achievement and prepare students for future success after graduating.

Lutz-Doemling said she looks forward to empowering and inspiring the students to achieve their fullest potential. She is also excited to work with the school board to “meet the needs of our students, faculty and staff,” while expanding and strengthening the district’s relationship with the community.

Eric Dauberman, current director of academic recovery, will change positions to become the assistant to the superintendent for HR and operations, effective July 1. Dauberman had moved from Sheckler Elementary School principal to the director of academic recovery July 1, 2022.

Dauberman said he is excited to start this new chapter in his career and is looking forward to working in all three district buildings.

“We have new leadership at each of the three buildings,” Dauberman said. “This creates a great opportunity for all of us to learn and grow together.”

He noted his excitement at maintaining “all of the great Catty traditions,” while cultivating new and exciting ideas with the district leadership teams.

He has already taken on part of his new responsibilities, particularly regarding human resources. He noted they’ve been hiring a number of new teachers and administrators during the past few months.

“Attracting great teachers and staff is one of the things I look most forward to,” Dauberman said. “Catasauqua Area School District is a great place to work, and that reputation has brought many great teachers, staff and administrators to our interview process. It is my hope that we continue to attract the best talent out there so that all of our students can learn from the most qualified teachers in the area.”

He is excited to work with Lutz-Doemling to continue moving the district forward.

“Dr. Lutz-Doemling will provide the vision, energy and leadership that will carry on all that Mr. Spengler has been building throughout his many years at the helm,” Dauberman said.

“Mr. Dauberman brings a wealth of educational knowledge and administrative experience to the assistant to the superintendent position,” Lutz-Doemling said. “Additionally, his strong initiative, collaborative approach and technology proficiency will continue to be an asset to the district as he provides leadership specific to district operations including human resources, transportation, facilities, technology and safety and security.”

Current Catasauqua Middle School Principal Melissa Inselmann will also shift roles to become the district director of curriculum and assessment. The change is effective July 1.

Current Sheckler Elementary School Assistant Principal Carey Humes will transition into the role of CMS principal.

She said how wonderful it was to be welcomed into the CASD family this past year, and she is looking forward to the “new adventure ahead” in stepping up into the CMS principal role. She started her role as Sheckler assistant principal July 1, 2022.

“Having such a supportive upper administration to support and work together in this transition is key,” Humes said.

She said she has worked with Inselmann to help prepare for the shifts in both of their roles.

“Her knowledge and insight will be crucial as we move through the summer and the 2023-24 school year.”

Humes said CASD is “a very special place” and that she is grateful for the opportunities she has had in the district.

“While it is hard to leave Sheckler after just one year, the connections made here will serve our district well in creating new opportunities to collaborate and grow together,” Humes said.

Sarah Koberline was hired to fill the vacant Sheckler assistant principal role. According to information shared by the district, Koberline has been an elementary school assistant principal in the Reading School District since 2019.

Additionally, during the June 13 board of education meeting, David Todd was approved to step into the principal position at Catasauqua High School. The former CHS principal, Adam Schnug, left the district at the end of the 2022-23 school year for alternate employment. Todd comes to CHS from East Penn School District, where he served as an assistant high school principal since 2021.

“I believe that our internal shifts in leadership positions will promote consistency and stability and keep our district moving forward in a positive direction,” Lutz-Doemling said. “With the ongoing support of community partners, the district will focus on continuous improvement in all aspects of our organization as we proceed with our efforts to achieve our district’s mission specific to educational excellence and lifelong learning.”

School board members applauded the district’s effective usage of its personnel in moving them around and up into the roles for which they are best suited. Board President Duane Deitrich emphasized the importance of keeping the momentum going and moving people up.

Lutz-Doemling noted CASD is “an extremely unique place to work,” with a focus on the students, strong traditions and a dedicated work ethic.

“We prioritize personal relationships, and we are a close-knit educational team that supports each other like family,” Lutz-Doemling said. “Even when faced with the most difficult challenges, I know that our district will always come together in support of our students and their families.”