In January, Southern Lehigh High School welcomed a new faculty member. Mrs. Mary Prudente will be taking Mr. David Dougherty’s place as a learning support teacher in room 138.  Mr. Dougherty moved to the science department earlier this year.

“I wanted to become a teacher because I had a really great teacher who inspired me,” Mrs. Prudente said. “When I was in high school, I had an extra period in the day. I had the opportunity to observe an elementary school classroom, and that jump-started what I really wanted to do.”

Prior to Southern Lehigh, Mrs. Prudente taught at Abington Junior High School as an eighth and ninth grade science teacher. She also spent time at Hamburg High School, where she taught ninth through twelfth grade math, and Pocono Mountain Junior High School, where she taught eighth and ninth grade science and social studies.

Mrs. Prudente went to Marywood University and held a dual major in elementary and special education. She has been applying to Southern Lehigh for the past three years.

“Southern Lehigh has a high reputation of excellence, and I just wanted to be a part of the school,” Mrs. Prudente said.

Outside of teaching, Mrs. Prudente enjoys spending time with her seven-month old son, watching and playing sports, enjoying anything outdoors, and playing video games.