CRESSON — A new principal will soon oversee Penn Cambria’s elementary schools, following a Tuesday approval by the school board.

Board members in attendance voted unanimously to promote district employee Joseph Smorto to the role.

Smorto, 32, an Indiana County native, spoke over the phone Wednesday, providing information about his history with the district.

Graduating from Saint Francis University with a bachelor’s degree in elementary and special education in 2008, Smorto was hired as a Penn Cambria teacher in 2009, he said.

“I started as the second-grade learning support teacher,” Smorto said, explaining he offered autistic and emotional support in that role.

Since then, Smorto has earned a master’s degree in special education from Edinboro University, as well as a principal certification from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

At IUP, Smorto is currently pursuing a doctorate in administration and leadership studies, he said.

Smorto’s first teaching job was in Penn Cambria, and since then, he has moved up in rank.

He is now principal at the district’s intermediate school — grades 3 and 4 — and previously served as high school assistant principal.

Smorto said he will use skills developed in those roles while serving as elementary principal.

As elementary principal, Smorto will oversee operations at several buildings serving children attending prekindergarten through fourth grade, he said.

“It’s the same approach; it’s just now I’ll be in charge of the whole elementary schools,” he said.

Smorto said his most “cherished” school-time memories are from when he attended elementary school, and he hopes to create similar memories for the children in his schools.

“My main goal is to re-create that,” he said.

Smorto has two children who attend schools in the Penn Cambria district.

He is to begin his new role as elementary principal on Monday.

“I am honored to be the principal,” he said.

Mirror Staff Writer Sean Sauro is at 946-7535.