It is my pleasure to introduce myself to you as the principal of Whitehall High School! My name is Dr. Peter J. Mayes and I am excited to lead in this important role for your child.  

Over the past 25 years, I have served as an educator in elementary and middle schools throughout the Lehigh Valley, which is where I grew up. I began my professional career as a 5th and 6th grade teacher in the Bethlehem Area School District. I made a difficult decision to leave the classroom and joined Mosser Elementary School in the Allentown School District as Principal. As my daughters approached middle school, I was blessed to serve the Bethlehem Area School District as the Principal of Nitschmann Middle School and was fortunate enough to be their principal! Now, I have the opportunity to help your child make the leap from the middle school years to graduation here at Whitehall High School. 

Thank you for entrusting your child’s education with the Whitehall-Coplay School District and Whitehall High School. As a first generation college graduate, I know the power of a strong education and the lifelong impact that it can have on a person and their family. I believe strongly that a well-balanced education can make all the difference in a child’s future to help them achieve more than the previous generation. My parents encouraged me to make sure I always pursued higher education.  I have earned my Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Bloomsburg University, my Masters of Science in Secondary Curriculum and Instruction from Kutztown University, my Masters of Science in Educational Leadership from Wilkes University, and my Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from East Stroudsburg University. 

Please communicate with me about any concerns, successes, or suggestions for your child or our school. You will find that I communicate regularly with our Whitehall High School community so we can all celebrate our students together! 

Since December 2006, I have served the Whitehall-Coplay School District as Whitehall High School Assistant Principal. During this time, I have had the extreme pleasure to work with the students and staff of WHS helping to provide excellent opportunities for academic success. In my role as Assistant Principal, I coordinate many of the high school’s academic and assessment programs. Whitehall High School offers various programs to help all students achieve their personal best. As we begin the 2021-2022 school year, we once again offer many new and exciting opportunities for students to grow academically, develop personally, and become an active member of the school community.

Prior to becoming a school administrator, I served as a middle school Mathematics Specialist and high school Mathematics Teacher in the Nazareth Area School District. I started my teaching career in the Easton Area School District as a high school Mathematics teacher. I also served both districts as a club advisor to SADD.

In preparation for my teaching career, I earned a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Millersville University. I continued my education at Lehigh University, where I earned a Master's of Education degree in the program of Educational Leadership and continued to extend my education at Lehigh to obtain Principal and Superintendent PK-12 certifications. Through my continued education, I have had the opportunity to broaden my background in leading a standards-based instructional program, strengthen my administrative and leadership skills, and gain a district-wide perspective of shared leadership.

As a graduate, musician and student-athlete of Liberty High School, I learned the value of excellence in education and school pride. Throughout all of my educational opportunities, I have held these principles close to my heart and continue to strive to provide students with similar opportunities. As an adult, I continue to enjoy my passion for learning, love of reading, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

I look forward to the year ahead and wish everyone a fabulous and successful 2021-2022 school year. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of further assistance.

My educational experiences began right here in the Whitehall-Coplay School District, where I attended K-12. I then earned a degree in Psychology, Elementary Education and a minor in Spanish at Cedar Crest College. Upon being hired as an ESOL teacher in the Allentown School district, I earned my ESOL Specialist certification at DeSales University where I also completed my masters in Teaching English Speakers of Other Languages. After teaching ESOL students at Dodd Elementary for two years, I then transitioned to working at Communities In Schools, an alternative high school within the Allentown School District. I taught 9th and 10th grade English at CIS for three years before returning to Whitehall.

When the opportunity arose for me to work at my alma mater, I jumped on the opportunity and began working at Steckel in 2006 as an ESOL teacher. Upon completion of my principal certification, through Cabrini College, I transitioned to the high school in 2010. My love of learning led me to begin a doctoral program in Administration and Leadership in 2014 through East Stroudsburg University. In December of 2021, I successfully defended my dissertation and earned my Doctorate in Administration and Leadership.

As a graduate and resident of Whitehall, I am invested in making Whitehall High School a place where students are excited to come, parents feel welcome, and an organization we are all proud to say we are a part of! Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. I welcome any feedback and look forward to meeting each of you throughout the course of the school year.

It is my pleasure to serve you as an assistant principal this year. This is my first year in educational leadership. Prior to becoming an assistant principal, I had many rewarding experiences in the Whitehall-Coplay School District as a special education teacher in the middle school, and social studies teacher in the high school.  

My educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education with certifications of special education and social studies from Kutztown University, and Master’s of Education in Educational Leadership with Principal Certification from Delaware Valley University. 

As a graduate of Whitehall High School, my passion and commitment to our school community are evident in my interactions with all stakeholders, built on respect and honest communication. I am blessed to have two children of my own, Liv and Deacon. I have the same expectations for them as I do our students, whom I care for as much as I do my own.  I believe my role in their learning experience is to challenge them to succeed to their highest potential, provide support in times of need, and equip them with the skills needed to become productive and responsible citizens in an ever changing future.   

It is my privilege to be a part of the Whitehall High School community along with the many talented teachers and students here! I look forward to working alongside various stakeholders as we strive towards excellence and continue to develop a school of which our diverse community can be proud. Please feel free to contact me or see me with any questions or concerns you may have.