The East Penn Board of School Directors introduced Dr. Joyce Mundy as the first of two final candidates they are considering to fill the shoes of departing school Superintendent Dr. Michael Schilder.

The “Meet and Greet” event May 9 was chaired by Board President Alan Earnshaw who encouraged those in the audience to ask the candidate questions.

“As a teacher at Castle Rock School District for 13 years, I worked in the middle level as a language arts teacher,” Mundy said as she listed her experiences from the beginning of her 25 year career as an educator in Pennsylvania.

From there, Mundy related how she advanced to an administrative position with the Souderton School District as a junior high school assistant principal.

Mundy’s upward trajectory brought her to the New Hope-Solebury School District where she was employed as a middle school principal and assisted in curriculum work for five years.

“My last administrative position in Pennsylvania was in the Centennial School District as an assistant superintendent and superintendent of schools,” Mundy said.

Mundy and her family relocated to Florida where she is currently an assistant professor of education at Stetson University.

“We are relocating back to Pennsylvania. I am very excited to be stepping back into the role of public school administrator,” Mundy said.

In describing her leadership style, Mundy remarked, “I think I am a very ‘hands on’ leader.”

She added, “Of the things I love the most about leadership, are bringing teams together.”

Mundy refers to herself as “a relationships person.” For her, “the heart of leadership is all about relationships.”

Mundy listed strong communication skills and accessibility among her assets. “I have a strong vision for what success for students looks like, but I think it is important to work together to craft a shared vision,” Mundy said.

“East Penn is an exceptionally strong district,” Mundy continued. “I would be honored to lead a system like this. Not just to really nurture the good things that are happening, but to think about what those next steps might be.”

Mundy fielded questions from former East Penn school board members Terry Richwine and Wally Vinovskis, as well as Lower Macungie Middle School teachers Bonnie Raub and Heather Slatoff.

Mundy indicated that integrating technology in a meaningful way and expanding partnerships within the schools and with the surrounding community were among the interconnected priorities she would pursue if she got the job.

When asked about her views on how to handle a situation like the recent national student walkout by Emmaus High’s “Stinger” editor Erica Love, Mundy agreed with the current administration’s collaborative approach. “A good outcome has happened here,” she said.

Mundy’s list of credentials include a doctorate in education earned at Widener University in Chester, a master’s of education degree from Arcadia University in Glenside and a bachelor’s degree in English/secondary education from Cabrini College in Radnor. She also possesses K-12 principal certification from Immaculata University.