School District Named 'Top Lehigh Valley Workplace'

From Superintendent Leah Christman: 

On Sunday, March 3rd, The Morning Call is publishing “The Morning Call Top Workplaces” – a list of the best places to work in the Lehigh Valley. I am delighted to let you know that Southern Lehigh School District has been named to the list. On Sunday, you will be able to see us named in a special section of The Morning Call, and beginning Friday blurbs about the winners will begin to trickle into their website at www.mcall.com. Southern Lehigh was the only school district to be selected, although a few colleges were also in the top 30. The Morning Call announcements will be seen by over 425 thousand readers! I hope you will see the announcement.

The evaluation for the Top Workplaces program is based upon feedback from an employee survey sponsored by the Morning Call and Workplace Dynamics that many of our staff members completed a few months ago. We had 321 or 76% responses to the survey. Awards are based on responses to both the ‘me’ factor and more importantly, the ‘us’ factor. Details will be explained in the publication.

30 companies out of 506 invited to complete the survey were selected for the Top 30 Workplaces award. We are honored to have been selected for the award, particularly as the judges were our employees!  During these very difficult political and financial times, it is admirable that our employees realize how blessed we are to work in THIS school system. In addition, we were awarded one of the 15 special awards- “Meaningfulness”. We ranked highest of all companies in feeling that what we do has great meaning. And it does!!!

I have shared by belief with our staff members many times- what makes Southern Lehigh such a great place to work is truly all of them- our family. It takes us every one of us to make Southern Lehigh such a special place. From family and community members, teachers, counselors, facilities and technology staff, cafeteria workers, administrators, aides, nursing staff, secretaries, coaches, and our extended family- bus drivers… it takes everyone to make this district great. Every day our employees show that they care about the students, each other, and the District as a whole. Excellence matters here and it shows. I know we are not perfect, but we continue to strive toward perfection. We all make difficult decisions every day. We also know that sometimes it is difficult to please everyone, and yet, we keep the bigger picture in the forefront… that which is good for our students and that which is good for Southern Lehigh.

Congratulations to each of our employees for this award and honor. They play the critical role in making Southern Lehigh a TOP workplace and a TOP place to learn! I hope you join me in sincere appreciation for all they do for our students.