By MATT LINDSEY

NORWOOD -- Norwood-Norfolk Central School filled its middle school principal position by hiring an elementary teacher from Massena Central School.

Bill Lint will assume the middle school principal role this July, taking over for Jonathan Sovay, who retires this fall.

Lint has an extensive background in leadership roles which was a contributing factor in his hiring, according to NNCS Superintendent Jamie Cruikshank.

Cruikshank said the process involved a 12-person committee made up of parents, teachers, non-instructional staff and administrative school officials. The committee narrowed the field of 16 down to a handful of finalists.

Of those finalists Lint stood out due to his experience being a leader and his non-traditional path to becoming involved in education, Cruikshank said.

Lint was involved in the military in a leadership roles, as well as industry in a supervisor position.

He began volunteering in his child’s classroom and eventually went back to college and earned a degree in education.

His non-traditional path was part of the appeal, Cruikshank said.

“He was involved in committees and extra-curricular activities and his administration in Massena thinks highly of him,” he said.

He was appointed at an April board of education meeting, Cruikshank said.

Lint will be helped in the transition by Sovay.

Sovay will use accrued vacation time during parts of Augusts and in September until his final retirement date on Sept. 30.