The Penn Manor Board of School Directors has unanimously approved the hiring of Dr. Phil Gale as the new superintendent of Penn Manor School District, effective July 1, 2022.
At its April 11 meeting, the school board approved a five-year contract with Dr. Gale, currently assistant superintendent for secondary education. He will be paid $185,000 in the 2022-2023 school year.
School board president Herk Rintz said Dr. Gale “knows our community and knows Penn Manor. He is a great choice for superintendent.”
Dr. Gale will replace Mike Leichliter, who is leaving the district at the end of this school year after serving 13 years as superintendent.
“I cannot think of a better individual to be the new superintendent and carry on the important work of leading such a wonderful and caring school district,” Leichliter said following the appointment.
“It’s quite an honor and a privilege, and, at the same time, it’s very humbling,” Dr. Gale said of his appointment.
“Penn Manor is a very special place to me. I look forward to continuing to serve this great community as I work with great teachers, administrators, support staff and school board members.”
Dr. Gale has served as Penn Manor’s assistant superintendent for secondary education since July 1, 2019.
He previously was principal of Penn Manor High School, serving for 10 years after working as dean of students, assistant principal and associate principal at the high school.
Before joining the Penn Manor staff in 2000, Dr. Gale was a social studies and science teacher at schools in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.
He received his doctorate in educational leadership from Immaculata University in 2012, his master’s in educational leadership from Millersville University in 2001 and his bachelor’s degree in social studies from Elizabethtown College in 1993.
Phil and his wife, Jill Montgomery, live in Millersville. They have two sons, Grant and Aaron, who are both Penn Manor graduates.
