SOUTH POINT — A new principal will take the helm at South Point Elementary School in the fall, but it is a name students in the district know well.

The district’s board of education chose Bill Christian for the position on Wednesday.

Christian, a South Point resident, has served as the school’s assistant principal for 12 years, along with principal Chris Mathes, whose position he is filling.

Mathes was named as the district’s new superintendent last week, replacing the departing Sam Gue.

Prior to serving as assistant principal, Christian worked as a science teacher at South Point High School, followed by 13 years as an intervention specialist at the elementary school. His first job in education was four years teaching at St. Joseph High School in Huntington, West Virginia.

Christian served as interim principal at Burlington Elementary School, splitting his time between that school and South Point Elementary for several months two years ago, when that position was vacant.

He has also worked as director of youth afterschool programs at South Point Elementary.

Christian earned his bachelor’s degree from Marshall University and has master’s degrees from Marshall and the University of Rio Grande.

He will take over as principal in the 2024-25 school year.