After more than four decades of serving Palm Beach County’s public school students, teachers and administrators, Area 2 Superintendent Rod Montgomery has announced his retirement. Prior to his current position, Montgomery served as principal at Wellington High School.
Montgomery joined the School District of Palm Beach County in 1975 and has taught and coached, and has been an assistant principal, principal and area superintendent. He attributes his success in the profession to a few mentors who seemed to come into his life at the most opportune time helping him overcome challenges. He feels that to remain significant over time, you must not just be open to change, but insist upon it.
“I feel truly blessed to have had an opportunity to do what I’ve done with so many amazing educators and feel that this is the right time for me,” Montgomery said.
Montgomery received his post-secondary education from Florida A&M University, where he was also a member of the Rattlers football team. He moved to Palm Beach County in 1975 and has lived or worked in almost every part of the district. He taught and coached at Lake Worth High School and Boca Raton High School; served as assistant principal at Boca Raton High School, Wellington High School and Olympic Heights High School; and as principal of Lake Shore Middle School and Wellington High School. He became an area superintendent in 2003.
“Rod understands the power of building a positive culture in schools,” Superintendent Robert Avossa said. “He is a class act, and he has modeled high quality leadership for hundreds of principals, and influenced thousands of children’s lives over his 41-year career.”
A principal who credits her success to Montgomery’s influence is Congress Middle School Principal Denise O’Connor. Montgomery hired O’Connor as principal of Palm Springs Elementary School and has continued as her supervisor at Congress Middle School.
“He has been awesome as a mentor, to have confidence in me when he hired me meant a lot,” O’Connor said. “He always has a genuine concern for kids, and makes sure that his schools makes sound decisions in their best interest.”
Montgomery’s four area superintendent colleagues wish him well as he moves on.
“Rod has been a glimpse into the history of the position of area superintendent, and is a great statesman, colleague and friend. We all wish him all the best as he embarks on the next phase of his life,” Dr. Camille Coleman said on behalf of the area superintendents.
ABOVE: Rod Montgomery
