Greater Latrobe School Board found the district’s new superintendent close to home, promoting Assistant Superintendent Georgia Teppert on Friday to take on the top administrative post beginning Aug. 1.

Teppert has filled several administrative roles since joining the district 20 years ago as assistant senior high principal.

“I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with many phenomenal teachers, administrators and staff during my time at Greater Latrobe, and I plan on leveraging those experiences as superintendent,” she said.

The board set her initial salary as superintendent at $166,500. She is earning $149,547 in her current role.

She began her career in 1987, as a physical education teacher at the Valley School of Ligonier in Ligonier Township. She went on to administrative posts at the Ligonier Valley and Richland school districts.

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School board President Eric Hauser said Teppert stood out from more than 40 candidates for the superintendent job because of her leadership skills as well as her deep knowledge of the district.

During her interview for the post, he said, “She took control. She was specific about what she’s doing. There was no doubt where she was.

“We hired somebody who leads.”

Hauser said the board hasn’t decided if it will hire someone to take over the assistant superintendent post Teppert soon will vacate.

Teppert will succeed Judith Swigart, who is set to retire July 31, ending a nearly 11-year stint as the district’s top administrator.

Swigart, 61, of Unity has said she “will do whatever is necessary to make the transition as smooth as possible.”

Perry County-based consultant Tom Templeton was hired for $13,500, plus expenses, to lead the search for superintendent candidates.

That process included a March 20 public input session, where most of those who spoke indicated they’re happy with the direction the district is headed and don’t want a new superintendent to disrupt the educational programs in place. Some of the 18 people who attended that meeting expressed concerns about elementary class sizes and inadequate district communications with the public.

Swigart, a 1975 graduate of neighboring Derry Area High School, became Greater Latrobe’s first female superintendent when she was hired in September 2008. She has overseen several major capital projects at the district, including the relocation of the central administrative offices to Lincoln Avenue in Latrobe and, most recently, construction of a $24.8 million Latrobe Elementary School on the opposite side of the street.

Swigart also is credited with leading development of the district’s Career Pathways program for students and helping to establish the nonprofit Greater Latrobe Partners in Education Foundation, which spearheaded a $5 million capital campaign for district programs in academics, arts and athletics.

She recently told the board she is looking forward to attending district events from a new perspective, as her grandchildren progress through the grade levels at Greater Latrobe.

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