Rosemary Porembo attended her last meeting of the Panther Valley School Board on Thursday as the district superintendent.

She has served the district for 37 years and was superintendent for eight years.Succeeding her will be Dennis Kergick Sr., who serves as the supervisor of curriculum and federal programs in the North Schuylkill School District. Kergick, who was awarded a three-year contract with Panther Valley, begins his duties on July 1.Board President Jeff Markovich said Porembo began in the Panther Valley district as an elementary teacher.During her career here, she served as girls basketball coach and elementary principal."Her main priority has always been to provide a sound educational environment for our students," Markovich said.Porembo became emotional as she said farewell to the school board.She said working in the district "has been an honor and a privilege.""I took my job very seriously and I hope I made a positive impact," she said.The outgoing superintendent praised the board members, mentioning the difficult decisions they have made and the even more difficult decisions that will be confronting them."They were my strength," she said of the board members.She looked at her successor and told him, "I wish you, Mr. Kergick, the strength to keep everybody together."To the community, I say 'thank you,'" she added.She continued, "I can't say enough about this area. We're not the only ones economically depressed."She spoke about the resolve that people in the area possess.The board presented her with a plaque.