Chris Shaw, principal of Lassiter High School in Marietta, Ga. was named Spain Park High School’s next principal at a special called meeting of the Hoover Board of Education April 29.

After Superintendent Andy Craig introduced Shaw, the new principal spoke about his deep ties to the Hoover area.

“I just want to say thanks to the board for a homecoming. I was born and raised here,” said Shaw, who graduated from Homewood High School in 1982.

Shaw said he is committed to the Spain Park community to continue the school’s tradition of excellence.

“It’s one of those things where Spain Park is a special place. The thing that makes Spain Park special is the community,” he said. “I want to make the Spain Park community proud. It’s one place I want to stay, and I want to stay until I retire.”

After the meeting, Craig said it was difficult for the board to choose a candidate out of the top five.

“We had some exceptional candidates. It was a competitive decision, and there’s only one spot,” Craig said. “We felt like (Shaw) was the best fit.”

Shaw has been at Lassiter High since 2006. In that time, the school has been awarded a bevy of honors, including being named a Newsweek magazine Top High School, an Advanced Placement Merit School for the state of Georgia, a National School of Excellence and a Georgia School of Excellence. Shaw was also named the 2008 Principal of the Year for the state of Georgia.

The Hoover school board also named Dr. Ken Jarnigan, chief academic officer for the system, as the new band director at Spain Park. Jarnigan, who will step down from his position as chief academic officer, replaces Mike Aycock as band director.