File:1960 - Louis E Dieruff.jpg

English: 1960 - Louis E Dieruff.

For 47 years, Louis E. Dieruff (1889-1964) dedicated his life to the education of young students and to the advancement of his city’s growth.

Dieruff was instrumental in a major change on how students were taught in Junior High School (Grades 7-9), and High School (Grades 10-12). Dieruff was responsible for setting up Academic Departments, such as English Department, Math Department, Social Studies, etc. Before that teachers would have to teach all of these subjects to classes during each school day.

Under Dieruff's plan, fixed length "periods" were set up, and teachers were specialized by the department they were assigned to. Students would go from classroom to classroom each day and be instructed in specialized subjects. Today, this is commonplace in the ASD, however it was LED who brought the practice to Allentown. .

Dieruff made his Allentown teaching debut on April 1, 1916 and went on to serve a combined 36 years as a teacher and principal for elementary and junior high schools. In 1952, he was named the administrative assistant to the superintendent in charge of junior high schools and the administrative assistant to the superintendent in charge of secondary schools. Finally, he became the secretary-business manager for the District before retiring in 1957.

Construction of Louis E. Dieruff High School began in 1957 as a prospective junior high school to serve the growing population of east Allentown. In September 1959, Dieruff opened its doors to 10th, 11th and 12th graders.