NORWICH – Students attending Norwich High School may have noticed a new face walking the hallways last week, one sure sign that the months-long search for a new high school principal has finally come to an end.
Following a special board of education meeting, Norwich newcomer Kermit Moyer was designated as principal at NHS on Tuesday, putting him in a new role of leadership only weeks before the end of the school year. Moyer, who assumed his new role immediately, will spend the next few weeks getting to know the district a little better before he hits the ground running in September.
While Moyer may be new to NHS, he is certainly no stranger to the Norwich area. His experience in school administration dates back to 2007, when he served as athletic director and subsequently as assistant principal at the Chenango Valley Central School District near Binghamton. Most recently, Moyer was building principal for the Keshequa Middle and High School in Nunda, NY for the 2012-2013 school year.
Moyer rose above several viable candidates for the principal position, earning him unanimous favor among members of the special search committee at NHS. The committee - comprised of administrators, teachers, students and parents from across the district - simply saw him as the right man for the job, said Norwich City School District Superintendent Gerard O’Sullivan.
“He really impressed everyone with his ability as an educational leader,” O’Sullivan said, calling notice to Moyer’s six years of previous experience in school administration and a longstanding teaching career in physical education that began in 1989. “I look forward to working with him as we transition into the next school year.
“I am very excited to be working in this school district,” said Moyer, citing his familiarity with Norwich from his previous tenure at Chenango Valley. “I really look forward to leading and facilitating what I think is a great high school, and working with all the stakeholders in the district who have been very warm and welcoming.”
“I anticipate this transition to move very smoothly and expect that we will work collaboratively toward a good relationship,” O’Sullivan added. “I think we have moved Norwich forward to a better place this year and we will continue that success and positive experience next year.”
The Norwich High School has been without a building principal since the NCSD school board took steps to remove former NHS Principal Lisa Schuchman from the position in November. In the interim, Assistant Principal Kistin Giglio stepped into the role. She will now continue serving as assistant principal.