The Lower Dauphin Board of School Directors named Robert Gildea as district superintendent at a special meeting on Aug. 28.

Gildea was selected by the board to replace Rob Schultz, who resigned in April. Gildea will be the Lower Dauphin School District's sixth superintendent of schools since the district's founding in the 1960s.

Gildea has served as superintendent of schools in the Hollidaysburg Area School District since 2013.

"It is truly an honor to be chosen by the Lower Dauphin Board of School Directors to lead what, in my view, is an amazing school district!" Gildea said. "I am looking forward to becoming part of the community and getting to know the students, teachers, administrators, support staff, parents and community supporters.

"With everyone I have had the pleasure of meeting through the selection process there is a common theme - a strong sense of school and community pride. I am looking forward to building upon the great things that are happening here to ensure every student is empowered with the skills needed to successfully pursue his/her chosen path in life."

Gildea also spoke about the knowledge, skills and abilities he plans to bring to the district to build upon Lower Dauphin's existing culture.

"I feel the most critical attribute of a leader is the willingness and desire to invest in the community that he/she serves. People want to follow a leader who they know and trust," he said. "In order to build that trust, it is imperative to build relationships with all constituents. I have used that social capital over the past 10 years to navigate challenging financial and political times within my former school district, no different than the challenges many districts have faced.

"My experience has given me the ability to see issues through the lens of those with opposing viewpoints and guide all involved to an amicable resolution."

In addition to serving as superintendent, Gildea was the Cyber Academy director and athletic director in Hollidaysburg Area School District from 2012 to 2013 and was an elementary school principal from 2000 to 2012. He served as an elementary school teacher in Hollidaysburg in grades three and five from 1990 to 2000.

A native of Hollidaysburg, Gildea graduated from Hollidaysburg Area High School. He earned his bachelor's degree in elementary education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and his master's degree and elementary principal certification from Saint Francis University. He earned a Doctor of Education in administrative leadership studies from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2012.