Current Montgomery Area Junior/Senior High School Principal, Dr. Joseph Stoudt, will assume the role of district Superintendent, effective July 1, 2025, following a unanimous vote by the Montgomery Area School Board at its monthly meeting Tuesday night.

The move comes after current Superintendent Daphne Bowers, who has served for more than two decades, announced her retirement at last month’s meeting. Bowers last day on the job will be June 30.

A key factor in the board’s decision to effectively promote Stoudt is to maintain a longevity of leadership within the district.

“We’re coming off of a longevity of a Superintendent that’s worked in education for 35 years, and was in the Superintendent position for 21,” board President Paul Stryker said.

Stoudt has indicated a number of times, including before the hiring committee, that he intends to continue his career with the district until his eventual retirement, Stryker said, noting that Stoudt has worked for the district for the vast majority of his time as an educator.

“When the negotiation committee worked out a previous contract with Mrs. Bowers, we knew that this day was coming,” he said.

“We also implemented a succession plan back in 2022, seeing that Dr. Stoudt was furthering his education within the district, we could see what was happening, and what his next step would ultimately be,” Stryker said.

“We feel that longevity is something that will be good for this district and for our students. He has the district and the students number one in his mind to carry on the legacy of Mrs. Bowers and the direction of this district,” he said.

“We feel, through the dedication and the educational plan, Dr Stoudt is the best candidate to fulfill the position of the superintendent,” Stryker said.

Following the vote, Stoudt spoke of his love for the community.

“My family has a pretty long history in Montgomery. My great-grandfather actually served as pastor of the Methodist church here. My grandmother graduated from Montgomery back in 1936, and her sister two years later,” he said.

Stoudt fought back tears as he spoke of his mother, who he said recently and unexpectedly passed away, as playing an integral part in his exposure to the borough.

“My mom was a secretary in the elementary school for a few years, and really got me here to Montgomery,” he said.

“She would bring me here in the summertime, and I’d help her do things with the requisitions and everything. And it really kind of got me in love with school, and it got me exposed to Montgomery, and I just always loved it here when I was little,” Stoudt said.

“I had the opportunity to come back here after two years teaching out in the Poconos, and I’ve been here for 24 years, 10 years as the high school principal,” he said, before paying tribute to his soon-to-be predecessor.

“Over the last 20-plus years, I’ve watched Mrs. Bowers, and have been amazed at how she’s led the school district. She really has transformed the school district to one that’s known for academic success and innovation, and it truly is the privilege of my professional career to be the next superintendent and do my best to keep this district moving forward,” Stoudt said.

“When you spend a lifetime in the school district, as I feel like I have, you gain many friendships. You feel like where you work is your home, and through the last 10-plus years, I feel like I’ve been mentoring Dr. Stoudt through his doctoral program and now into the superintendency,” Bowers said.

“I truly feel there’s no better candidate for superintendent. I wish him all the luck, and I will be here whenever you need,” she said.