The Lower Merion School District will hire Upper Dublin’s superintendent as its next leader

The Lower Merion School District has selected Upper Dublin Superintendent Steven Yanni as its next superintendent — choosing a leader from another Montgomery County district.

Yanni, who has led the Upper Dublin district since 2018, is expected to be confirmed by the Lower Merion school board at its meeting Tuesday, with an anticipated start date of Aug. 14.

“It is an honor to be selected to serve as the next superintendent of the Lower Merion School District,” Yanni said in a statement Friday. “I am eager to work with and on behalf of our students, staff, board, families, and community as we reach new and higher levels of educational excellence in Lower Merion.”

Yanni could not be immediately reached for comment. Details of his proposed contract with the district were not yet available.

Upper Dublin’s school board president, Jeffrey Wallack, said the board was “sad to see Dr. Yanni leave,” calling his dedication to the district “unwavering through both expected times and unexpected times.”

In Lower Merion, board president Lucy Klain said the board was “extremely excited that Dr. Yanni will bring his experience as a dynamic, caring, and thoughtful educational leader” to the district.

“His deep commitment to ensuring excellence in education for every student every day alongside his dedication to building community connections reflects what is most important to this community,” Klain said.

Before coming to Upper Dublin, Yanni worked in the New Hope-Solebury School District in Bucks County, serving as assistant superintendent and then superintendent. He also previously worked as a supervisor of curriculum, instruction, and assessments and as an elementary school principal in the East Pennsboro Area School District, and as a coordinator and teacher in the Twin Valley School District. He began his career as a teacher in Gaston County, N.C.

Yanni has a doctorate in education and master’s in educational leadership from Immaculata University, and a bachelor’s in education from the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown. He lives in Bucks County.

His hiring follows a search by Lower Merion to replace Khalid Mumin, who was selected earlier this year to be Gov. Josh Shapiro’s education secretary. Mumin was in charge of Lower Merion for a little more than a year; since his departure, Megan Shafer has served as acting superintendent, leading the district as it’s grappled with plans to institute full-day kindergarten and shift school start times, among other issues.

Shafer, who Klain said showed an “unmatched level of compassion and empathy for our students, families, and staff members,” will continue to serve as assistant to the superintendent for district administration under Yanni.

Meet and greets with Yanni will be scheduled this summer, Klain said, directing community members to check lmsd.org for further information.