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<p>SOUTH ABINGTON TWP. &#8212; Abington Heights High School Assistant Principal Andrew Snyder is excited to take the next step in his administrative career.</p><p>Snyder, 38, will replace Pamela Murray as Abington Heights High School principal, effective July 1.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m thrilled,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Abington Heights has truly embraced me from the time I came here, both as a community member and administrator. I grew up in the Lehigh Valley, but everyone has treated me like one of their own. I&#8217;m grateful to the members of the school board and (Superintendent) Dr. (Michael) Mahon for having the trust in me to be able to lead the school. This opportunity means so much to me.&#8221;</p><p>Members of the <a href="http://theabingtonjournal.com/features/community/18621/abington-heights-high-school-principal-pamela-murray-resigns" target="_blank">Abington Heights School Board approved Murray&#8217;s resignation</a>, effective at the end of June, during a meeting on Jan. 20.</p><p>Snyder began his tenure as assistant principal at Abington Heights High School in September 2006.</p><p>During his nearly 10 years in the district, the Newton Township resident embraced the chance to provide input on happenings in the classroom as well as handle disciplinary matters.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve been able to be an instructional leader,&#8221; Snyder said. &#8220;I&#8217;ve had the opportunity to work with teachers in regard to curriculum, work with students through Back to School Carnival planning, freshman orientation, and the transition team, which mentors new students entering the high school.</p><p>&#8220;I feel it&#8217;s important to get out and engage with the kids on a positive level.&#8221;</p><p>In his new role, Snyder hopes to forge a personal bond with each pupil in the building.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m looking forward to helping the school continue to grow and achieve in the realms of education, and allow my vision for education to have an impact on every student who comes into Abington Heights,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I plan to reach out and create a collaborative effort between the middle school and high school, and really work with our tremendous administrators and teachers.&#8221;</p><p>Snyder will also aim to get the maximum potential from everyone involved with the high school operations.</p><p>&#8220;I want to really focus in on everyone doing their personal best, every day, knowing they have my full support. That goes for teachers, students and everyone associated with the building. We have such tremendous talent and by giving nothing less than their best, there is nothing we can&#8217;t accomplish.&#8221;</p><p>Snyder has been touched by the backing from the entire Abington Heights community following his promotion.</p><p>&#8220;The outpouring of support I&#8217;ve received has been completely humbling,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Between Facebook and Twitter responses, phone calls, texts, students approaching me, I would have never imagined this amount of support. I&#8217;m truly grateful and look forward to working with the community in helping this school grow through a joint effort. I really think we&#8217;re all on the same team and we&#8217;re all looking to help raise all the kids at Abington Heights.&#8221;</p><p>Mahon believes Snyder is an ideal fit for the position due to his experience and hard-working attitude.</p><p>&#8220;He&#8217;s deeply committed and dedicated to Abington Heights High School and its students,&#8221; Mahon said. &#8220;He&#8217;s a highly capable administrator who has shown great innovation in his work. We&#8217;re very excited about all the skills he brings to this leadership position.&#8221;</p><p>According to Mahon, the district plans to continue operating with two assistant principals at the high school. Lee Ann Theony is the other current assistant principal.</p><p>Mahon added Snyder will be formally appointed to the position during the school board&#8217;s next regular monthly business meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 18 at the Abington Heights administration building, 200 E. Grove St., Clarks Summit.</p><p>Prior to joining Abington Heights, Snyder served as a social studies teacher and head wrestling coach at Pocono Mountain West and Pocono Mountain High School from 2000 to 2006. He was named assistant principal at Pocono Mountain West Junior High in June 2006. He also served as a social studies teacher at Carbon County Vo-Tech.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Andrew Snyder, current assistant principal, will replace Pamela Murray as Abington Heights High School principal effective July 1. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_ABJ-AHHS-SnyderCMYK.jpg</photo0><caption0>Andrew Snyder, current assistant principal, will replace Pamela Murray as Abington Heights High School principal effective July 1. </caption0><photoCredit0>Robert Tomkavage | Abington Journal </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_ABJ-AHHS-Snyder.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Andrew Snyder, current assistant principal, will replace Pamela Murray as Abington Heights High School principal effective July 1. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_ABJ-AHHS-Snyder.jpg</photo1><caption1>Andrew Snyder, current assistant principal, will replace Pamela Murray as Abington Heights High School principal effective July 1. </caption1><photoCredit1>Robert Tomkavage | Abington Journal </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Andrew Snyder eager to began new role as high school principal</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Robert Tomkavage</p><p>rtomkavage@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Robert Tomkavage at 570-704-3941 or on Twitter @rtomkavage.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Long-time administrator Andrew Snyder eager to begin new role as principal at Abington Heights High School