Parkland administrator Anonia resigns amid investigation

SOUTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pennsylvania – A controversial Parkland School District administrator appears set to resign.

The Parkland School Board is scheduled to vote Tuesday on whether to accept the resignation of district performing arts director Frank Anonia, effective June 21, according to the meeting agenda.

According to an email from Superintendent Mark Madson obtained by LehighValleyNews.com, Anonia was recently the subject of an internal investigation.

The school district has not made any public comment on the investigation into Anonia and did not immediately respond to a request for comment on his resignation.

Anonia served as choir director at Parkland High School from 2007 until his promotion to director of performing arts in 2021. Previously, he served as director of choral activities for the Whitehall-Coplay School District.

In his position, Anonia was “responsible for the development and implementation of all integrated performing, visual and artistic arts curricula, programs and performances/presentations in all K-12 Parkland schools,” according to a 2021 press release about his appointment.

The board meeting will be held this Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Parkland School District Administration Center.

Investigation into Anonia

Madson’s April 25 email said “allegations related to Mr. Anonia” had triggered the investigation, but did not specify what those allegations were.

On April 11, 29-year-old William Marshall, who lived with Anonia, was sentenced to 11½ to 23 months in prison in Lehigh County for possession of child pornography.

Marshall, a 2013 graduate of Parkland High School and former student at Anonia, was sentenced last month to prison in Lehigh County and placed on the state’s sex offender registry under Megan’s Law.

On April 17, Anonia testified in a lawsuit alleging that the school district knew about another teacher’s sexual harassment of students but did nothing to prevent it.

The lawsuit was filed by five former students against the Parkland School District, the Palisades School District and former teacher and football coach Christian Willman, said plaintiffs’ attorney Stewart Ryan.

It is unclear whether these events prompted the investigation.