Principal

Welcome to our school community! As your Principal of Central STREAM Academy, it is a privilege to partner with you in your child's educational journey. Over my two decades in education in the Allentown School District, from a third- and then fifth-grade teacher to leadership roles as an Assistant Principal at SMMS and as Principal at Central, my core philosophy remains the same: we must educate the whole child. I believe that school should be a place where a child's social, emotional, physical, and intellectualneeds are met simultaneously, and my goal is to create a nurturing space where every student feelsseen, safe, and inspired to grow.

Every child walks through our doors with a unique set of strengths, which is why our approach is deeply rooted in Howard Gardner's theory of Multiple Intelligences. We recognize that intelligence is not just a single test score; it is found in language, logic, music, art, nature, spatial awareness, movement, and interpersonal connections, all of which we tie to the Sciences, the Arts, and Athletics. Children thrive when their specific talents are celebrated. By understanding and honoring the diverse ways our students learn, we can tailor our instruction to help them discover their voices and unlock their full, individual potential.

This philosophy truly comes to life through our dynamic STREAM Academy, where we foster a lifelong love for the arts, athletics, and the sciences. By blending Science, Technology, Research, Engineering, the Arts, and Math, we break down the walls between subjects to mirror the real world. Through the STREAM framework, your children will not just memorize facts; they will compose, build, experiment, create, and explore careers of the future. I am incredibly excited to collaborate with you this year as we inspire our students to wonder deeply, think critically, and cultivate a joyful, well-rounded love for learning.

---

About Principal Rebecca Bodnar

Rebecca Bodnar
Principal
Central STREAM Academy

Experience:

• Principal at Central Elementary STREAM Academy 2015-present
• Assistant Principal at South Mountain Middle School for 3 years
• Acting Principal at Cleveland: 6/2015 - 9/2015
• Acting Principal at Central: 12/2014 - 4/2015
• Acting Principal at Sheridan: 7/2014 - 9/2014
• Teacher for 7 years at Cleveland Elementary School, grades 3 and 5

Education:

• Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from Lehigh University
• Master's Degree in Elementary Education from Lehigh University
• BS in Elementary Education/Art from Wilkes University