Mike Porembka’s final day as superintendent of Greater Latrobe School District is set for Dec. 31.

The school board is expected at a meeting next Tuesday to accept Porembka’s resignation and select an administrator to lead the district in the interim while a search is underway for his successor.

In a mid-November letter to the community, Porembka announced his intention to step down, citing a desire to spend more time with his family.

He told TribLive he’d experienced some health issues in June that caused him to reexamine the priorities in his life. He didn’t discuss specifics of his health.

Porembka, 49, attended his final school board meeting as an administrator on Tuesday, nearing the end of more than 25 years working at Greater Latrobe.

A graduate of neighboring Derry Area School District, Porembka completed student teaching at Greater Latrobe in 1997 and joined the staff as a social studies teacher the following year.

His subsequent roles have included assistant junior high principal, Baggaley Elementary principal, interim director of facilities, director of teaching and learning, and assistant superintendent.

He was promoted to superintendent in January 2022, upon the retirement of his predecessor, Georgia Teppert.

Porembka has indicated he doesn’t intend to seek employment with another school district.

“My plan is to focus on my (children) Gunner and Griffin and to be a better husband to my wife,” he said after Tuesday’s meeting. “I’ve sacrificed that whole part of my life for so long. It’s time for me to focus on that.”

Porembka’s son, Gunner, is in seventh grade, and his daughter, Griffin, is in fifth grade at the district. His wife, Megan, is a biology teacher at Greater Latrobe Senior High.

Several district officials recognized Porembka for leading the way in enhancing security at Greater Latrobe buildings — with school resource officers, equipped with dedicated vehicles.

While noting he hasn’t always agreed with the outgoing superintendent, school board President Andrew Repko said Porembka “did the right thing, what was good for the students. Students have always been first, no matter what.”

District Solicitor Ned Nakles said Porembka has been known for his approachability.

“He stops to talk with everybody,” Nakles said, “and they realize that they can go right up and talk to him. No matter who they are.”

Board member Heidi Kozar said Porembka has demonstrated empathy and compassion for students. Regarding his pending departure, she told him, “I’m happy for you; I’m happy for your family; I’m certainly happy for your kids. … I’m very sad for our school district.”

“I know the decisions I’ve made haven’t always been popular, but I’ve always put them through the lens of what the best thing is for our kids,” Porembka said.

He said he’s enjoyed having former district students tell him about their post-secondary lives.

Of the district’s 260 teachers, he noted, many are Greater Latrobe graduates.

“About a third of them are former students of mine, and that’s awesome,” he said.

“I appreciate your trust and faith in me and the opportunity to serve,” he told the board.

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