One of the region’s top school districts is aiming to continue its excellence with an elite superintendent at the head of future classes.

Downingtown’s nine-month, nationwide search for a new leader culminated in this week’s hiring of the state’s 2014 Superintendent of the Year, Emilie Lonardi from the West York Area School District, according to a York Dispatch report by Junior Gonzalez.

“Dr. Lonardi is an outstanding educator with a remarkable breadth of experience,” said Downingtown School Board President Colleen Cranney. “She has clear ideas on how best to move this district forward. These points made her our clear choice for this most important position.”

Lonardi was approved on a 7-2 vote to succeed retiring superintendent Lawrence Mussoline.

“I am very pleased that I will be leaving DASD with the steady leadership hand of Dr. Lonardi at the helm,” he said. “She has accomplished much in her stellar career as a leader among Pennsylvania superintendents.”

Downingtown hired Lonardi for five years, starting July 1.

Read more about Lonardi and her 19 years of experience in the York Dispatch here.