NORTHAMPTON — An experienced educator with local ties has been tapped to lead Northampton High School after a monthslong search.

Interim Superintendent Jannell Pearson-Campbell announced Friday that William Werhli will assume the role as principal of the high school on Jan. 3.

Wehrli, who was announced as the only finalist for the job last month, brings more than 30 years of experience working in education and has formerly served as assistant principal at Amherst Regional High School and principal at Pioneer Valley Regional School in Northfield.

“I couldn’t be more excited to join the Northampton High School community,” said Wehrli in a statement. “I think it’s going to be exciting to learn about all the good work done at the school, and what I can do to support that.”

Wehrli visited NHS on Nov. 30, where he met with students, administrators and teaching staff, as well as holding a public forum to share his vision and address the community’s needs and concerns for the high school.

At the forum, Wehrli emphasized his commitment to student equity, a concern among community members following the resignation of the previous principal, Lori Vaillancourt, who resigned in the wake of publicly requested internal emails which called into question her seriousness in addressing issues of equity. Wehrli cited his previous work at Amherst and as assistant director at the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, his most recent role, as evidence of his commitment to the issue.

“I think for me, a lot of it goes back to ... facilitating creating structures and opportunities,” Wehrli told audience members at the time. “Then we like to work with students to ask them, what would you like to do in our schools?”

In a letter sent to the school community on Friday, Pearson-Campbell said, “In various conversations with him, equity and preparing all students for college and career has been his lifelong mission. Throughout this search process, he believes in working collaboratively with all members of the community.”

In her letter, Pearson-Campbell also thanked associate principals Meghan Harrison and Diane Zamer, substitute principal Lesley Wilson, and high school staff for maintaining operations at the school during the search for principal.

Pearson-Campbell would not disclose Wehrli’s salary until after first meeting with the School Committee.

The next step for the school district will be to find a permanent superintendent, following the departure of John Provost last summer. The Northampton School Committee is currently looking for members of the community to be part of a preliminary search committee. The School Committee hopes to hire a new school leader by next summer.

Alexander MacDougall can be reached at amacdougall@gazettenet.com.

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