EASTON, Pa. - Bethlehem schools administrator Benita Draper will become the Easton Area School District's new assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, starting next month.
She takes over the role left vacant by Tracy Piazza, who was hired to replace retiring Superintendent David Piperato.
- Benita Draper was hired as an assistant superintendent in the Easton School District
- She will be "acting" until she gets her letter of eligibility
- Her contract is for five years and she's eligible for a 3% raise each year starting July 2024
Draper's contract runs for five years, until June 30, 2028. She starts off in the position of acting assistant superintendent until she gets her letter of eligibility from the state Department of Education. She'll receive $150,000 a year until she receives her eligibility, at which time her annual salary will rise to $155,000. Every July, beginning in 2024, Draper will be eligible for a 3% raise.
"We are very excited to have Dr. Draper join the administrative team," school board President Meg Sayago said. "She really stood out in the interview process as an outstanding candidate with a wealth of experience, both at the building level and district level."
Draper arrives in Easton after spending about 16 years in Bethlehem. She was the principal of Lincoln Elementary School for 15 years before heading up BASD's Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in 2022.
After Assistant Superintendent and Chief Academic Officer Jack Silva was named to replace retiring Superintendent Joseph Roy, he promoted Maureen Leeson to replace him. Leeson has 16 years of experience in education and has served as a Freedom High School assistant principal and a teacher at Liberty High School.
"She really stood out in the interview process as an outstanding candidate with a wealth of experience, both at the building level and district level."Easton Area School Board President Meg Sayago
At least one of Draper's supporters, Bethlehem NAACP President Esther Lee, said she felt Draper should have gotten Bethlehem's assistant superintendent position instead.
Silva said he had offered to create another assistant superintendent position for Draper based on her work around equity and inclusion.
An attempt to reach Draper for comment was not immediately successful.
Piazza has a five-year contract with an annual salary of $192,500 as Easton's new superintendent, which was approved last month.
