The Lehigh University School Study Council (LUSSC) is a consortium of school districts, schools, charter schools and intermediate units which maintain a strong commitment to participating in professional development experiences. We know this focus allows school administrators to better meet the needs of their districts and students.
Membership meetings and the luncheon following each program provide opportunities for informal dialog with the program speaker, fellow administrators and university faculty. Because programs are typically held on the Mountaintop Campus at Lehigh University, members enjoy access to one of the most scenic meeting places in the Lehigh Valley.
LUSSC has a partnership exclusively with school districts represented on the council to select students in our region for participation in the Lehigh University Summer Engineering Institute.
Contact
Email : inlussc@lehigh.edu
Executive Director: Dr. Brian Osborne
Assistant Director/Graduate Assistant: Beth Taglioli
Program Coordinator: Cindi Deutsch
Mailing Address:
Lehigh University School Study Council (LUSSC)
College of Education
Iacocca Hall
111 Research Drive
Bethlehem, PA 18015
School Study Council Programming
The Future is Now
The Study Council historically presents programs focused on issues that superintendents and other central office administrators address daily. Over the years, our presenters have included both national and regional educational leaders at the forefront of current issues of interest to superintendents.
Our 2024-2025 theme will be, The Future is Now. Our collective sense is that AI is not a fad; rather, it has the potential power to change learning more profoundly than the advent of the search engine or the internet itself. This year’s programming for Lehigh’s School Study Council will feature AI and other game-changing disrupters to improve the education of all students.
2024-2025 Program Dates
If you are interested in attending our monthly program, please contact the coordinators at inlussc@lehigh.edu. Districts and individuals (i.e., retired district superintendents) may join Lehigh’s School Study Council by remitting the 2024-2025 membership payment.
All 9 AM - 12:30 PM unless otherwise noted with both breakfast and lunch provided.
PA Department of Education approved Act 45 provider.
- October 9 - Economic Development Group of the Lehigh Valley (Don Cunningham, CEO)
- November 13 - AI Spotlight (Luyen Chou, Ed Tech advisor for Bain Capital Double Impact and Chief of Innovation for Triumph Learning)
- December 11 - Annual Politics and Possibilities Panel (Kevin Busher, Pennsylvania School Boards Association, Larry Feinberg - Keystone Center for Charter Change, Susan Spicka - Edu. Voters PA, Kelli Thompson - PSEA).
- January 15 - Annual Research to Practice Showcase, Dr. Juan Zheng, Dr. Vanesa Mora Ringle, Dr. J. Cameron Anglum. Register now.
- February 12 - AI Spotlight: Edan Shahar, entrepreneur, and futurist, best known as the founder of multiple technology companies, including Test Innovators.
- March 12 - AI Spotlight: Christian Talbot, President & CEO of the Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools, one of the world’s original K12 accreditors.
- April 9 - Annual Federal Policy Update (Noelle Ellerson Ng).
- May 21 - District AI Initiatives Showcase (TBD district leaders).
Member Districts/Organizations
- Allentown School District
- Bethlehem Area School District
- Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School
- Catasauqua Area School District
- Cathy Keegan (retired superintendent)
- Centennial School
- Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit #21
- Colonial Intermediate Unit #20
- East Penn School District
- Easton School District
- Lee Fredericks (retired superintendent)
- Lehigh Career and Technical Institute
- Lehigh Valley Academy Regional Charter School
- Nazareth Area School District
- Northampton Area School District
- Northern Lehigh School District
- Northwestern Lehigh School District
- Palisades School District
- Palmerton Area School District
- Parkland School District
- Pen Argyl Area School District
- Quakertown Community School District
- Randy Ziegenfuss (retired superintendent)
- Salisbury Township School District
- Southern Lehigh School District
- Thomas Seidenberger (retired superintendent)
- Upper Perkiomen School District
- Whitehall-Coplay School District
Advisory Board
- Kristen Campbell
Superintendent of East Penn School District - Joseph Kovalchik
Superintendent of Northampton Area School District - Matthew Link
Superintendent of Northern Lehigh School District - Mark Madson
Superintendent of Parkland School District - Bridget O'Connell
Superintendent of Palisades School District - Tracy Piazza
Superintendent of Easton Area School District - Tom Seidenberger
Superintendent of East Penn School District
(retired) - Jack Silva
Superintendent of Bethlehem Area School District - Brian Osborne
Executive Director - Beth Taglioli
Assistant Director/Graduate Assistant
LUSSC Awards
Each year the Lehigh University School Study Council chooses two members to receive the prestigious awards listed below.
Cooperative Leadership Award
The National School Development Council
To recognize outstanding leadership within the NSDC member study councils or on their behalf, including exemplary efforts to establish cooperative relationships with other educational agencies or school study councils in the course of creating educational programs for the nation's schools.
- Kathleen Evison (2021)
- Tracy Smith (2020)
- Joseph Kovalchik (2019)
- Rich Sniscak (2018)
- Leah Christman (2017)
- Mary Anne Wright (2016)
- Mark Klein (2015)
- Sandra Fellin (2014)
- Thomas Seidenberger (2013)
- Joe Liberati (2012)
- Louise Donohue (2011)
- Charlie Amuso (2010)
- Beverly Martin (2009)
- William Haberl (2008)
- Lawrence Mussoline (2007)
- Lee Fredericks (2006)
Excellence in Educational Leadership Award
University Council for Educational Administration
An annual recognition for practicing school administrators who have made significant contributions to the improvement of administrator preparation
- Julie Fogt (2021)
- Scott Cole (2020)
- Christina Lutz-Doemling (2019)
- G. Kennedy Greene (2018)
- Joseph Roy (2017)
- Michael George (2016)
- Samuel Varano (2015)
- Raymond Boccuti (2014)
- Joseph Roy (2013)
- Bridget O’Connell (2012)
- Jack Silva (2011)
- Rachel Holler (2010)
- Debra Miller (2009)
- Louise Donohue (2008)
- Clyde Hornberger (2007)