Troy City Schools hired a new Troy Elementary School principal on Friday.

Willie Turner III will start on Oct. 21.

“We’re excited to have him on the team,” said Teresa Sims, principal at Troy Elementary. “We had about 40 applicants and interviewed nine highly qualified candidates.”

Turner comes to Troy Elementary School from Greenville Middle School. He holds both bachelor and master’s degrees from Auburn University in Montgomery and is highly qualified in both Alabama and Georgia. During his 11-year career he has taught at the Bullock and Montgomery county school systems in Alabama and the Clayton County School System in Clayton, Ga.

“I’ve heard good things about Troy City Schools and I’m looking forward to being a part of the system,” said Turner, who attended Friday’s called board of education meeting. The sole item on Friday’s agenda was this personnel action.

Turner replaces Cynthia Thomas, who moved from vice principal to the Central Office on Sept. 30, when she was named curriculum and federal program coordinator.

Thomas started working with Troy City Schools as a special education teacher in 1996 and was named vice principal at TES in 2004. She replaced Chresal Threadgill, who left the system to become superintendent of the Elba City Schools.

The board of education accepted Threadgill’s resignation and approved Thomas’ new position at a called meeting on Sept. 30.