HOLLIDAYSBURG — The Hollidaysburg Area School District is saying goodbye to two long-term employees, one to retirement and the other to a new position outside the district.

Francine Endler, who has been with the district for 21 years, the past seven as assistant superintendent, is leaving to become executive director at Central Intermediate Unit 10, and after nearly 30 years of service, C.W. Longer Elementary Principal Tim Gildea is retiring.

Endler began her career at Hollidaysburg as a guidance counselor at Foot of Ten Elementary School, later serving as principal before being named assistant superintendent and curriculum director seven years ago.

“It was an absolute honor to serve in the Hollidaysburg School District in every capacity that I held.” Endler said. “Each job provided unique challenges and wonderful opportunities.”

Endler said the people she worked with over the years helped set a high standard at Hollidaysburg, which pushed her to constantly try to reach higher.

“I had the wonderful opportunity to work with a great team at Hollidaysburg,” she said. “I was part of a team, and we all had very high standards, and that motivated me to work hard with my colleagues and with the community.”

Hollidaysburg Superintendent Robert Gildea said Endler’s contributions to the district over the years will be felt for years to come.

“Francine was possibly the hardest working person I’ve ever worked with,” he said. “She was very dedicated to the district and to ensuring we had a vibrant curriculum. Her shoes are going to be hard to fill.”

Taking over for Endler is Jennifer Mitchell, who has served as curriculum director at the Mifflin County School District for the past six years.

Mitchell, a graduate of Juniata College, has more than two decades in education, first as a teacher and instructional coach in the Huntingdon Area School District before moving on to an administrative role at Mifflin County.

Mitchell said one of the things that attracted her to the position at Hollidaysburg was the school’s importance to the community.

“There is just something to be said about smaller districts with that hometown feel where the school district is the central hub of the community,” she said.

Mitchell said she felt welcome at Hollidaysburg from the beginning and knew it was where she wanted to be.

“From the moment I walked in the door, everyone was kind, caring and seemed to be interested in me as a person and that was very inviting,” she said.

Gildea said there were strong candidates for the assistant superintendent position, a job he said is “critical to a school district’s success.”

“We really wanted to find someone who had the knowledge but also the personality to work with many groups of people,” he said. “She is going to be a good fit for the school district.”

Tim Gildea, whose brother, Robert Gildea, called “one of the most influential people in my life,” is retiring after 28 years in the district.

Current Foot of Ten Principal Brian Keagy is moving to C.W. Longer, and Frankstown elementary teacher Jaime Hartline has been named principal at Foot of Ten.

Mirror Staff Writer Rick Boston is at 945-7535.