The Elizabethtown Area School District Board of School Directors announces that Superintendent Dr. Karen Nell has been selected as the next Superintendent of the Eastern Lebanon County School District (ELCO), pending final approval by the ELCO Board at its April 20, 2026, meeting.

Dr. Nell has served the Elizabethtown Area School District community in multiple leadership roles over the past several years. She joined the District as Assistant Superintendent in April 2021, was named Acting Superintendent in October 2022, and was unanimously approved as the District’s eighth Superintendent in May 2023. She officially assumed the role in July 2023.

“On behalf of the Board, we thank Dr. Nell for her leadership and service to the Elizabethtown Area School District and our community,” said School Board President Kelly Carter. “We appreciate her contributions to our students, staff, and families, and we wish her well in her next role.”

An official last day for Dr. Nell with the District has not yet been determined and will depend on contractual obligations and mutual agreement between the respective boards.

The Board of School Directors will be sharing additional information in the coming weeks regarding the process for selecting the District’s next superintendent. Updates will be communicated regularly to ensure the community remains informed throughout the transition.

We thank our students, staff, families, and community members for their continued support of the Elizabethtown Area School District.