Grace Taylor will succeed former principal Gene May in the top job at John Adams Elementary School, a position shes held on an interim basis since his departure in April.

Superintendent Morton Sherman made the appointment official a week ago, welcoming the long-time Alexandria City Public Schools employee to her permanent position.

Grace is an experienced educator and has worked with students of all ages, Sherman said in a statement. She has strong ties to the community and has a track record of strong leadership that has translated into student success.

A T.C. Williams graduate, Taylor has worked for the district as an administrator for the past eight years. Previously she served as associate principal at T.C. and principal at George Washington Middle School and Minnie Howard.

While at Minnie Howard, Taylor initiated an orientation program, Hello High School, to help incoming students adjust to their new environment. She earned the Washington Posts Distinguished Educational Leader designation for ACPS in 2007.

Though Taylor has deep roots in Alexandria, she began her career in school administration as an assistant principal and eventually principal at two high schools in Atlanta.

She also served as principal of a Boulder, Colo. high school before returning to Alexandria in 2003.