Dr. Renato M. Lajara officially became the superintendent of the Bethlehem Area School District on July 1, the first Latino to hold that position in the district’s history, taking charge of Pennsylvania’s sixth-largest school system as it heads into a new academic year.
A Unanimous Vote, a Historic Appointment
The BASD Board of School Directors voted unanimously to appoint Dr. Lajara earlier this year, a decision that drew praise from educators and community leaders across the Bethlehem area. He assumed full leadership on July 1, the day his predecessor, Superintendent Jack P. Silva, retired after three years leading the district and a 40-year career in public education.
Lajara came to the United States from the Dominican Republic as a child and began his own schooling as an English language learner, a background that carries personal resonance in a district where many students are themselves multilingual learners.
Coming from Philadelphia’s Schools
Before coming to Bethlehem, Lajara served as assistant superintendent for Network 8 in the School District of Philadelphia, where he oversaw 15 schools and more than 8,000 students. He holds a doctorate in educational leadership and a master’s degree, both from Gwynedd Mercy University.
The District He Leads
Bethlehem Area is the sixth-largest school district in Pennsylvania, serving more than 12,700 students across 22 schools in the City of Bethlehem, Bethlehem Township, Hanover Township, the Borough of Freemansburg, and the Borough of Fountain Hill. The district spans communities in both Lehigh and Northampton counties. Lajara’s appointment is widely seen as a milestone not only for the district but for a community in which Latino residents make up a substantial share of the population in parts of Bethlehem.
At a Glance
- Dr. Renato M. Lajara took over as BASD superintendent on July 1, 2026.
- He is the first Latino superintendent in Bethlehem Area School District history.
- The Board of School Directors unanimously approved his appointment.
- Lajara previously served as assistant superintendent for Network 8 in the Philadelphia School District, overseeing 15 schools and 8,000+ students.
- BASD is Pennsylvania’s sixth-largest district, with more than 12,700 students across 22 schools.
- He succeeds Jack P. Silva, who retired June 30 after 40 years in public education.
