Juniata Valley High School is welcoming its newly appointed principal, Matt Franks, for the 2025-2026 school year. While Franks is not new to the JV scene, the student body has accepted his new role in the community with open arms.

Franks started his involvement with Juniata Valley during his time as a high school student. His grandparents moved to the district in the 1970s, buying a farm and setting down roots. Franks says that he had “very positive role models” and “some of those teachers and staff are still employed here at JV.” He was also involved with athletics through the school. His love for “helping kids” came from his time as a JV student as well, leading him to choose the education field for his career path. Now he is setting down roots of his own in the JV community with his wife and children. He and his wife claim that JV is where they “want [their] kids to attend school.”

After getting his degree, he did not immediately return to his hometown. He worked as a teacher at Northern Bedford High School in 2008 to start his career. At Northern Bedford, Franks was a physical education and health teacher, as well as a coach for the high school football and track and field teams. After that, he moved to Mount Union Area School District, where he worked as the principal. He then moved again to JV, at which he worked as the Vice Principal before the former principal, Mike Estep, retired. Franks chose to come back to JV because it is “home and where [he] wants [s] to raise [his] children.”

Franks decided to pursue the principal position because he “wanted to have a bigger impact on student achievement.” He claims he “always wanted to help kids be successful” and believes that the title of principal will do just that. He is excited to begin “working with the staff” as well as “hearing their thoughts and ideas” about improving the school. Franks claims that the former principal “left JV in a great place for [him] to take over,” and plans to continue moving the district forward.