A former Los Angeles social studies teacher and Peace Corps volunteer who most recently was a director of a Sylvan Learning Center in Clinton, N.J., Liza Robinson takes the helm after a tumultuous first year
Valley charter school to open second year with more students
Performing arts classes to see curriculum, scheduling changes.
By Kathy Lauer-Williams
Of The Morning Call
[Excerpt]
With its first year under its belt, the Lehigh Valley Charter School for the Performing Arts will start its sophomore year Sept. 2 with more students, an expanded curriculum, a new principal and a nearly complete black box theater.
Superintendent Tom Lubben said the high school has 340 students — 70 more than last year — enrolled at the school at 675 E. Broad St. in Bethlehem. The school's maximum enrollment is 400.
Principal Liza Robinson, who took over July 1, said she is eager to begin the school year.
''We can't wait for students to get back and get started,'' said Robinson, who lives in Hellertown.
A former Los Angeles social studies teacher and Peace Corps volunteer who most recently was a director of a Sylvan Learning Center in Clinton, N.J., Robinson takes the helm after a tumultuous first year. The original principal, Diane LaBelle, stepped down after two months and was replaced by William Miller.
Robinson said the school has worked to improve curriculum, partly with the assistance of a $292,000 competitive state grant.
''We're very excited about making the curriculum more interdisciplinary,'' she said.
The school also has split its music program into instrumental and vocal programs to offer more intensive programs, including a focus on music composition.
''It wasn't diverse enough in terms of interests,'' she said.
