Author: Lehigh Valley Academy RCS

The Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) is a comprehensive framework designed to address students’ academic and behavioral needs through tiered interventions. MTSS emphasizes a proactive approach by delivering targeted support at different levels of intensity, ensuring every student can thrive.

At the core of MTSS are Tier 1 interventions, which provide high-quality instruction in both academics and behavior to all students. This foundational level aims to prevent difficulties by using best practices in math, reading, and behavior management. However, some students may require additional help beyond this universal support.

For those needing more focused instruction, Tier 2 interventions come into play. These students receive small-group instruction in areas like math and reading interventions, as well as targeted behavior interventions. Specialists in these fields, such as math, reading, and behavior specialists collaborate with teachers to design and deliver these supports.

When students continue to struggle despite Tier 1 and Tier 2 interventions, they may receive Tier 3 interventions. These highly individualized, intensive supports are provided through one on one or smaller group instruction by specialists in math, reading, and behavior. Additionally, Tier 3 students attend a morning work session where they receive targeted support using ST Math and Lexia Reading programs. Tier 3 ensures that students with significant learning or behavioral challenges receive the specialized attention they need to succeed.

By using data-driven decision-making, MTSS helps identify and respond to students’ unique needs, ensuring every learner has the opportunity to reach their full potential. The combined efforts of specialists and educators are key to achieving these outcomes.

Mrs. Jennifer Gresser, K-5 MTSS Supervisor

Susan Mauser Receives 2024 Legendary School Leader Award

We are thrilled to announce that Susan Mauser, CEO of Lehigh Valley Academy RCS, has been recognized as the Legendary School Leader of 2024 by the Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools (PCPCS). This prestigious honor acknowledges Susan’s exceptional leadership, dedication, and the lasting impact she has made on our school community.  

Under Susan’s visionary guidance, Lehigh Valley Academy has continued to thrive, providing students with a nurturing and dynamic educational environment. Her endless commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and the well-being of our students and staff has truly shaped the future of our school. As a leader, she embodies the values of dedication, resilience, and integrity, inspiring everyone around her to strive for greatness.

The 2024 Legacy Award, bestowed by PCPCS, highlights Susan’s remarkable contributions to the world of education. Her leadership has not only transformed our school but has also set a high standard across the public charter school system. The Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools noted:

Congratulations to our 2024 PCPCS Legacy Award Recipients! We are thrilled to celebrate your outstanding achievements and unwavering commitment to excellence in education. Your dedication and impact on the community have left a lasting legacy, and we are honored to recognize your contributions.

As we celebrate this incredible milestone, we look forward to the bright future ahead, knowing that Susan’s passion, leadership, and commitment will continue to inspire students, faculty, and families for years to come. 

Congratulations once again! Your leadership has made an indelible mark on our school, and we are so grateful for the vision and heart you bring to everything you do.

Let’s all take a moment to applaud Susan Mauser for this well-deserved recognition!

What started as an in-depth history project has turned into passionate presentations, accolades, and government recognition for two Lehigh Valley Academy 6th graders who decided to take on the challenge of the National History Day competition. National History Day is a nonprofit organization that hosts an annual project-based contest for students in middle school and high school. The goal of NHD is to inspire students to study history, conduct meaningful research, and make connections to their own lives and the times in which they live.

During a regional competition in April against other local middle schools, LVA’s own Sudha Chandrasekaran and Aryash Shyam presented an incredibly impactful project: “How America Changed After the Great Depression”. This project wowed the judges and it was selected to advance to the next level of the history competition at Scranton University!

From After School Meetings to State Champions

A few weeks later, Sudha and Aryash prepared to present their project to an even larger bracket at the state competition. Middle school teams from across the Keystone State competed in various categories, but Aryash and Sudha’s project again proved to be the most impressive in the group presenter category. This incredible win means they’ll be representing Pennsylvania at the National Competition held this June.

Not only did our students win first place, but they also received the special honor of showcasing their exhibit at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., during the week of the national competition. These two have worked incredibly hard and we’re so proud to see them advance through each round!

With the National competition a few weeks away, the excitement continues to build. On April 30, Sudha and Aryash received their official certificates for First Place in the state competition Junior Group Exhibit, stamped and signed by Senator Boscola herself!

Governor Shapiro also sent our students a personal letter of encouragement, sharing that:

“our Commonwealth is shaped and strengthened by the character and prowess of our younger generation. The First Lady and I hope that you take the time to reflect on your achievements, and we wish you the best of luck and continued success as you move on to compete on the national stage.”

On Saturday, May 18th, a certificate of congressional recognition was awarded to Aryash by congresswoman Susan Wild during an event for new outstanding Military Academy Candidates; Aryash was invited to give the pledge of allegiance during the ceremony. 

Principal Raeford, and all of us here at LVA, are thrilled by the dedication and success of our young learners. Both Sudha and Aryash have been an inspiration, and we cannot wait to hear more about the rest of their journey to Nationals in June.

Lehigh Valley Academy has achieved remarkable success in the latest U.S. News 2024 High School Ranking Report! Here are the highlights:

• LVA is proudly ranked #1 in the Allentown Metro Area and #26 among 740 Pennsylvania public high schools.
• Nationally, LVA stands at #175 out of 3,022 charter schools and #986 out of 17,655 schools.
• These rankings are based on various factors including college readiness, curriculum breadth, state assessment performance, and graduation rates.
• LVA excels in areas like college readiness and state assessment proficiency.

College readiness is particularly important as it prepares students for success beyond high school. It’s not just about academic knowledge but also about developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills necessary for higher education and the workforce.

Congratulations to everyone at LVA for this outstanding achievement! While we’re proud of our standing, we consider ourselves a work in progress and look forward to making improvements year after year. It’s only through the collaboration and hard work of our staff and partnerships with parents and community organizations that Lehigh Valley Academy can support student achievement. We want our legacy to live on through our students’ abilities to achieve their goals.

You can learn more about LVA’s profile in the U.S. News Report here.

Lehigh Valley Academy recently completed a very successful International Baccalaureate (IB) school visit on April 8-April 10. A visiting team of representatives from the IB spent three days evaluating LVA’s approaches to teaching, our plans, development, they interviewed students, staff and parents and experienced the day to day procedures of LVA. These essential visits take place every five years for all authorized IB World schools in order to ensure that we continue to embrace the IB and are implementing the program with fidelity. 

In the past we have always had one programme evaluated at a time; however this time, all four programmes (Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, Diploma Programme and Career-related Programme)  were reviewed at the same time. 

While the final comprehensive report will be available in the coming months, the visiting team graciously provided us with a preview of their findings during their exit interview with the administrative team and their presentation to the community. The team’s feedback was overwhelmingly positive, emphasizing several strengths of our school. 

Strengths as an IB School

The team was very impressed with our school, the new building and our commitment to the IB programmes.

“LVA makes the IB happen.”

They shared that LVA makes you really feel the IB through the buildings, walls and the way that everyone interacts with each other and that IB permeates through everything that we do.

The team members were impressed with the way that teachers support the students. They recognized the strong relationships that the staff has built amongst each other, as well as with the students. Parents and students who met with the team shared how important the teachers are to the students. Students feel safe and that they are being supported in their learning. 

The new building stood out for the team, as well. The purpose built facility helps everyone support learning in the school. They appreciated the resources that are available to our students like technology, flexible seating, calming spaces and the additional staff in the classrooms.

The team was also impressed by LVA’s commitment to removing barriers and allowing students to access “IB for All”. They recognized how hard everyone works to provide academic, as well as social-emotional support to the students.

Important Next Steps for LVA

While recognizing our achievements, the team also provided valuable recommendations for our continued growth. They advised on the importance of ensuring all teachers are adequately trained in the IB curriculum, suggesting a structured approach to ongoing professional development. Additionally, they highlighted the need for updates to certain IB policies to align with the organization’s standards.

They also encouraged us to embrace that LVA is a IB continuum school offering all four programmes by developing structured opportunities for collaboration across the programmes, as well as within each of the programmes.

Being an IB World School is an ongoing journey, where the process is often just as important as reaching the goal. The end of this visit means that we are ready to start our new chapter with a focus on continuing to make LVA the best possible choice for our students.

Thank you to everyone who supported LVA through this experience. Our IB Coordinators, teachers, students, administrators, and Board members worked incredibly hard in order to help LVA shine and we’re incredibly proud of everything that we have accomplished.

Recently, Lehigh Valley Academy’s building project was named as one of the best 2024 construction projects in the Lehigh Valley. 

This accolade from Lehigh Valley Business serves as a testament to the dedication, collaboration, and innovation that define our school community. We are immensely proud to have our efforts acknowledged. 

Our Adaptive Reuse Project represents more than just the construction of a new facility; it embodies our commitment to sustainability, creativity, and community engagement. By repurposing existing real estate, we not only minimize environmental impact but also contribute to the revitalization of our neighborhood.

We extend our deepest gratitude to all those who played a part in making this project a success. From our dedicated Board of Trustees and staff members to our partners in construction and development, each contribution has been invaluable in bringing our vision to fruition.

We share this honor with all of the following: 

• Project Contractor: Alvin H. Butz (Project Construction Manager) 
• Project Architect: Alloy5
• Project Engineers: Snyder Hoffman Associates Inc., Terraform Engineering and Barry Isett
• Project Subcontractors: West Side Hammer Electric, Alan Kunsman Roofing and Siding, Eshbach Brothers L.P., Reed Associates, Sargent Enterprises Inc., Todd Devin Food Equipment, Tri-County Mechanical Inc., Charles Dectis Painting Inc., DiBello’s Metal Designs, Duggan and Marcon, Gordon H. Baver Inc., Hutts Glass, Macri Concrete, Metro Design Center, Sean Byrne Construction, Triangle Fire Protection, All Sports Inc., J Dylan Concrete, JBM Mechanical and Emmaus Constructors, Inc.
• Project Attorney: Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba PC

Furthermore, we express our gratitude to all of the subcontractors’ employees and craftspeople whose expertise and craftsmanship have left an indelible mark on our new facility. Their commitment to excellence has helped shape a learning environment that will benefit our students for years to come.

We are deeply honored to receive this recognition from Lehigh Valley Business (read the LVB article here) and remain committed to providing an exceptional educational experience for our students. As we celebrate this achievement, let us continue to strive for excellence and innovation in all that we do.

After two long years, Lehigh Valley Academy students can perform on stage once again. This spring, LVA Junior Senior High presents The Addams Family. Director Amanda Pascale, overwhelmed with pride, has the following thoughts to share.

What a momentous occasion this is for LVA Dramatics! Not only does this performance signify the return of live theatre to LVA, this is also the first full length musical that our incredibly talented students have had an opportunity to create and perform together!

This performance is a culmination of the dedication to craft, camaraderie, and storytelling that our program has been cultivating since the start. Every educator in our performing arts departments K-12 has continued to raise the bar and offer students deeper and more meaningful experiences in creation and performance, especially through this devastating pandemic. Our band, choir, and drama students at each level, with the guidance of their talented educators, committed themselves to pushing through this time with the power of the arts behind them.

It may have appeared to have been a quiet time for Drama at LVA, but in reality our students continued to meet twice a month throughout the shutdowns, and all of 20/21, until our return to in person meetings in the fall. These students met a Broadway star, honed their crafts, and prepared three virtual performances during this time! Our first ever LVA One Act Festival was a successful experience for our students, and began a powerful tradition we intend to continue!

This musical has been an absolute joy to work on from start to finish. By the end of this performance you will be able to recognize the incredible growth our program has seen over the past 6 years. Our very own Gomez and Morticia, Seniors Mandie Perez and Zoe Miller, will be continuing the traditions of dramatic performance and education as they pursue their futures at University of the Arts and Lehigh University, respectively, in the fall. I honestly couldn’t be more proud.

I would like to thank the LVA Board of Trustees, Susan Mauser, Jenn Nonnemacher, and Shea Ace for their continued support of the Arts at LVA. I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for LVA Dramatics!

Amanda Pascale
Director/Producer
The Addams Family School Edition

U.S. News & World Report released the 2022 Best High School Rankings and LVA  took the top spot among Lehigh Valley high schools.

LVA Rankings for 2022

#1 High School in the Allentown Metro Area (Area includes high schools from the PA & NJ areas)

#2 Charter High School in Pennsylvania 

#51 High School in Pennsylvania

#247 Charter High School in the United States 

#1,477 High School in the United States.

This ranking is based on 2019-2020 data. U.S. News & World Report utilizes the following indicators to calculate rankings: 

College Readiness (30%) – Measured by the proportion of the school’s 12th graders who took and earned a qualifying score on AP or IB Exams. 

College Curriculum Breadth (10%) – Measured from the percentage of 12th graders who took and earned qualifying scores on multiple AP or IB exams (4 AP or IB exams = full credit, 2 or 3 AP or IB exams = 50% or 75% credit)

State Assessment Proficiency (20%) – School’s student proficiency in reading, math and science on state assessments. Since there were no Keystone exams in 2020, U.S. News and World Reports utilized 3 years of historical data for measures that involved state assessment data. 

State Assessment Performance (20%) – The total assessment score for math, reading and science assessments is compared to the U.S. News predicted score based on demographic characteristics in the state the school is located in.

Underserved Student Performance (20%) – This measure assesses learning outcomes only among Black, Hispanic and low-income students.

Graduation Rate (10%) – Portion of students who entered ninth grade in 2016-2017 and graduated in four years by 2020.

Please see below for links to the U.S. News and World Report website for LVA’s ranking and the article from Lehigh Valley Live and the Morning Call.

US News & World Report Ranking – LVA 

LV Live Article

Morning Call Article