Our Staff

Principal

Dear Parents and Families,

Welcome to Peters Elementary School! It is my great pleasure to serve the students, staff, and community as principal. This year marks my 25th in public education — 18 of those years teaching K–12 music in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and now entering my seventh year as principal of Peters Elementary. I am excited to begin the 2025–2026 school year and to lead a staff dedicated to creating a supportive environment where every child can learn and grow.

I’d like to begin by sharing a year-long project our staff completed to develop a shared mission statement for Peters Elementary. Teachers reflected on their beliefs about education, the qualities that define great teaching, and the unique strengths of our school community. Here is the mission statement we created together:

At Peters Elementary, we believe in the power of education to uplift and inspire. We meet each child where they are, fostering a safe, inclusive environment where they feel valued.

We believe teaching is both an art and a science, driven by love, purpose, and passion. Our educators lead with heart and embrace every opportunity for growth.

We believe in the strength of community, collaboration, and mutual respect. Together, we nurture the potential in every student and staff member, growing and achieving as one.

Motto: One community, endless possibilities

I am very proud of our work on creating this mission statement and believe it is an accurate reflection of who we are and what we do.

In early August, we welcomed 69 students for our second annual KinderQuest program. They met some of our teachers and staff, learned our schoolwide expectations in classrooms and throughout the building, and began building relationships that will help them succeed. I am grateful to the faculty and staff who make this program possible — thank you for your amazing work!

It is an exciting year for our school as we focus on our second-year of implementing the CKLA: Amplify. Students showed so much growth last year in the first year of the new program. I am excited to see what the second-year growth will look like!

This year, we are exploring new math programs to determine the best path forward for math instruction in our school district. It is an exciting opportunity to consider programs that not only meet Pennsylvania standards, but also inspire classrooms of inquiry and exploration. I look forward to seeing how these programs can benefit our students and to working collaboratively with our teachers as we move toward strengthening math instruction.

Each year, I am reminded of the truth in the saying, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Your child’s teachers and our staff are an important part of that village, but we recognize that parents and guardians are children’s first and most important teachers. Mr. Breiner and I look forward to hosting our monthly Family Engagement Meetings, which bring our entire “village” together. This year, our first meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m., based on feedback from last year’s survey. We’ll use that time to discuss plans for the remainder of the year, and I hope you’ll join us.

I am proud to be the principal of Peters Elementary School! As a district, our motto is “Living, Learning, and Leading to Make Every Story Better.” If you ever need to discuss your child’s education and ways to make their story better, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or your child’s teacher.

I’m looking forward to an amazing school year!

Respectfully,

James Schnyderite

JSchnyderite@nlsd.org

Assistant Principal

A Message from Peters Elementary Assistant Principal, Mr. Krajcic

It is with great enthusiasm that I join Slatington and Peters Elementary Schools for the 2025–2026 school year. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to serve the students, families, and staff of the Northern Lehigh School District. Having grown up in the Lehigh Valley, this community feels like home, and I look forward to building strong relationships that support the success of every child.

Before becoming an administrator, I taught 2nd, 4th, and 5th grade and served as a math specialist at two Allentown schools. This is my fifth year as an assistant principal, most recently in the Reading School District. My passion has always been helping students develop confidence as learners. I earned my bachelor’s degree from Kutztown University and my master’s degree from Slippery Rock University. My K–12 Administrative Certification is from Point Park University, and I am currently furthering my education through Penn State University’s education doctorate program.

My goal each day is to be a steady, visible presence who fosters safe, supportive, and inclusive environments where all students can thrive. Across both buildings, we are committed to providing strong academic foundations, encouraging independence, and nurturing social-emotional growth. I value collaboration, consistency, and equity, and I believe that when schools and families work together, we create the conditions for every child to reach their full potential.

I look forward to partnering with you throughout the year as we continue making Northern Lehigh a place where every student feels seen, valued, and proud to belong.

Sincerely,

Nicholas Krajcic
Assistant Principal
Slatington & Peters Elementary Schools

Mrs. Melissa Bowers - Life Skills Special Education

Miss Kayla Perkowski - Transitional Learning Support Special Education

Mrs. Amanda Bashore - Intervention Specialist

Mrs. Kara Richardson - Title I Reading Specialist

Miss Josie Flugger - Title I Reading Specialist

Ms. Rachel DeMiccio - Gifted Coordinator

Ms. Agata Olbrys - Occupational Therapist

Ms. Solei Rodriguez - Speech Therapist

Ms. Jenna Martin - Multilingual Language Learners Instructor

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