Page 11 - Top Workplaces 2019

THE MORNING CALL THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2019 11

Parkland School District gets

high marks for fourth year

By Margie Peterson Special to The Morning Call It’s that kind of district he said. “They take the initia- Parkland
pride that led Parkland to its tive to go help the younger School
uring the Great Recession and Parkland fourth consecutive nomina- people.” District
That was true for Jimmy
tion as one of The Morning
fourth-grade
its aftermath, many school dis- School Call’s Top Workplaces, plac- Rivera, who worked in other teacher Amy
tricts in Pennsylvania cut back District ing second among large em- school districts, including in Robenold and
Don the arts and other electives. No. 2 ployers in the 2019 survey. Florida. A home and school her students
The school district has 1,281
visitor for students undergo-
dance to the
Not Parkland School District. That’s one of large employees serving 9,463 stu- ingin-schoolsuspensions,Ri- song “Happy”
the reasons Eric Roberts, the chairman of the company dents in grades K-12 at 11 vera appreciates that his as Kratzer
schools in South Whitehall,
work is valued at Parkland.
Elementary
high school guidance office, loves working North Whitehall and Upper “Everyone was just very School holds
there. Macungie townships. Its professional and friendly,” he an event —
“I’veworkedatthehighschoolsincethefall Founded: 1949 2018-2019 budget is $179.3 said. a “Positive
Plus, he likes being able to
million.
Behavior
of 1996 and I think one of the things that has Ownership: Among Parkland High reachchildrenwhoarestrug- PAWSitive
Government
stood out is we’ve always done what’s best for Sector: School’s course offerings is a glingandmakeadifferencein Celebration”
class on the science of fire-
their lives.
— in Novem-
kids,”Robertssaid.“Ithinkaprimeexampleis Education fighting and an EMT class “I treat all the students ber.
Employees:
when school districts were cutting art pro- 1,281 taught by members of Cetro- with respect and I let them
grams, physical education programs and mu- Website: nia Ambulance and Eric know when they come in,” he APRIL GAMIZ/
THE MORNING
said. “People make mistakes.
Gopen, who also teaches
sicprograms,wewereaddingthem.Whatwas parklandsd.org economics. Gopen said he Noneofusareperfect.Wecan CALL
in the best interest of the kids never suffered.” thinks it’s the first such high learnfromourmistakes.With
that understanding, there’s
school course in Pennsylva-
Now in a better economy, Parkland has nia. responsibilities that come
more to offer than ever. Gopen,who’sbeenatPark- with that. I give them a fresh
“We currently have162 electives at the high land since1999, said there is a start. If you did something
cultureatthedistrictofveter-
stupid or you made a bad
school,” Roberts said. “We have something for an teachers helping newer choice, let’s put it behind us.”
everyone.” ones.
“They are so welcoming,” Please turn to Next Page