Andy Jados is the new principal at Big Walnut High School.

Jados replaces Jeff Jones, who has left the Big Walnut School District to take the principal’s position at Beavercreek High School near Dayton.

“Andy is the current principal at Franklin Heights High School in South-Western City Schools,” Superintendent Angie Pollock told the Big Walnut school board last week. “Prior to his time at South-Western, he was an assistant principal at Westerville, a dean at Pickerington and taught high school social studies at Hilliard.”

Pollock said Jados was selected to fill the high school position following a rigorous process that included interviews with numerous district stakeholders, including staff, students, parents and administrators.

While Jados was at Westerville, he was named the state’s Assistant Principal of the Year through the secondary principals’ association, and was also voted the Most Valued Administrator by the Westerville support staff, Pollock said

“We believe Mr. Jados is a great fit for our high school, and we’re excited to welcome him to Big Walnut,” she said.

Following the board’s vote to approve Jados’ contract, he thanked the board for the opportunity.

“I’ve grown up 15 minutes from Sunbury, and I’ve always understood from the outside how special Big Walnut is,” Jados said. “When I went through the interviews, what really sold it for me was the interview with students, understanding the pride they have in their school. I intend to uphold the traditions here, and help make this the greatest high school in central Ohio.”

Jados will earn $100,000 annually at Big Walnut.

Board members also approved hiring James Hall as a Big Walnut High School assistant principal. Hall will replace Bridgette Firstenberger, who has taken an administrative position at Lakewood High School in Cleveland.

Hall, who will earn $80,000 annually, is currently the Grandview Heights athletic director, and has four years of experience as a principal.

Current high school Assistant Principal Sarah Wytzka is moving to a newly created assistant principal’s position at Big Walnut Intermediate School.