School Board Appoints New Assistant Superintendent

The Saucon Valley School Board unanimously voted to appoint Dr. Susan Mowrer Benda assistant school district superintendent at its meeting Tuesday night.

Mowrer Benda, who’s currently the director of elementary education in the Bensalem School District, replaces Carl Atkinson.

Atkinson resigned over the summer to become assistant superintendent in the Springfield Township School District in Montgomery County.

Saucon Valley superintendent Monica McHale-Small introduced Mowrer Benda to the board, and read aloud a biography that highlighted her previous work as an elementary school principal in both the Pennridge and Allentown school districts.

Mowrer Benda received her undergraduate education at Moravian College, where she studied vocal music, and pursued post-graduate studies at the Eastman School of Music, Lehigh University and Widener University.

After years of working closer to Philadelphia, she is “very happy to be returning to the Lehigh Valley,” McHale-Small said.

In introducing herself, Mowrer Benda concurred, and noted that she was excited to be able to “turn left” at the Hellertown McDonald’s instead of continuing south on Route 412.

“I am thrilled to be a part of your team,” she said. “I thank you for the opportunity.”

It was noted at the meeting that Mowrer Benda’s father is a former Bethlehem Area School District board member.